Photo: Chanelle Lawson
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for Dylan Ferguson.
From the high of winning the Waikato Horse of The Year with She Reigns for employer Graeme Rogerson, to the low of watching his partner Jo Stevens recuperate in hospital after a riding incident, Ferguson has experienced a flurry of emotions of late.
But he ended the season in pleasing fashion, winning behind stable representative Meetmeinsorrento at Alexandra Park on Friday night, recording Rogerson’s 25th training win of the season and his 33rd driving success of the season.
“It was a good win, but it was a pretty decent drop back in grade for him,” Ferguson said. “On form he was the best horse in the race, and he proved that.”
Ferguson was also pleased with the stable’s season tally, its highest in several years.
“We had some nice horses race throughout the year and have had a good season,” he said. “We won’t be resting on our laurels, we want to go better than that this season.”
Ferguson is now looking forward to the new season, and the next step in his career, after officially joining Rogerson in a training partnership at the commencement of the new term.
“I am looking forward to it,” said Ferguson, who first started working for the Hamilton stable as a teenager.
“I worked a bit for him (Rogerson) during my school holidays and then worked there for two years before I went to Australia.
“I have been back here for three years now, so it is good to get a bit of recognition for the work I put in.”
The stable has nearly a dozen yearlings in work and Ferguson is hoping a couple of them can emulate the deeds of stablemate Classy Operator, who was runner-up in the Gr.1 Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes (1700m) last season.
“We have got some nice, young stock coming through so hopefully we will be able to build off that,” he said.
While his professional life is on an upward trajectory, Ferguson’s personal life is starting to get back to normal with his partner Jo Stevens return from hospital.
A trainer in her own right, Stevens was hospitalised for more than a fortnight after falling off her showjumper last month, and Ferguson said it is a relief to finally have her out of hospital and back home.
“Jo is good and she is home now,” he said. “It’s all about getting back into the swing of things now and back to a bit of normality.
“I am looking forward to some nicer weather. When the spring comes around it is always an exciting time for racing.”
