By Anthony Manton
The Black Book will identify race performances around Australia particularly worth following in the future. These may be high profile runners at trials and smaller tracks, or eye-catching performances, we'll aim to give you a horse to add to your pedigree or performance black book for the future.
The promising Prophet’s Thumb (I Am Invincible) looks set to continue her rapid rise through the grades when she lines-up at Warwick Farm on Wednesday in race 4 the benchmark 70 1200 metres for 3 year-olds and upwards.
Trained locally by David Pfieffer, Prophet’s Thumb resumed this campaign with a dominant win at Gosford over 1000 metres taking her record to two wins from just three outings.
After settling back in the field, Prophet’s Thumb angled into the clear approaching the turn and showed a great turn of foot to win with her ears pricked, in the manner of a horse loaded with class.
In her first preparation Prophet’s Thumb was heavily backed to win her maiden at Wyong in late August on the back of two impressive lead-up trials before being thrown in the deep-end in the Listed Heritage Stakes 1100 metres at Randwick in mid-September. She finished only 4 lengths from the winner Ragged Rascal (Denman) while still mentally and physically immature.
"We threw her in the deep-end a bit in what looked a weak Heritage Stakes but she was still immature and mentally not ready." - James Ferguson, Racing Manager for David Pfieffer
“In her first preparation she was a 3-year-old racing in a 2-year-old's body. We threw her in the deep-end a bit in what looked a weak Heritage Stakes but she was still immature and mentally not ready,” said David Pfieffer’s Racing Manager, James Ferguson.
“This time in she’s come back a lot more mature and switched on in her work."
Jockey Corey Brown, who has been with the filly at each of her three starts, retains the ride on Wednesday and from barrier two she maps to get the perfect run to continue to build on her impressive record. Connections are hopeful of raising the bar for Prophet’s Thumb deeper into her preparation.
“We’ve got a plan in place but at this stage it's one race at a time. If she can keep progressing races like the Light Fingers Stakes (Group II 1200 metres Randwick February 16) or the Surround Stakes (Group 1 1400 metres Randwick March 2) could be an option”.
“We’ve got a plan in place but at this stage it's one race at a time." - James Ferguson
“If she isn’t up to that level we can always bring her back for a race like The Fireball Stakes (Listed 1100 metres Randwick March 9), a race we won last year with I Am Excited (Snitzel),” said Ferguson whose family race the filly under Bell River Thoroughbreds.
Prophet’s Thumb was passed in at the 2016 Magic Millions Weanling Select Sale for $120,000 and was retained by vendors Bell River Thoroughbreds. She is the first foal from the mare Set To Skelter who was incidentally sold the same year for $150,000 at the 2016 Inglis Australia Broodmare and Weanling Sale to dissolve a partnership, but is still owned under similar interests.
“Her brother, a colt by Hinchinbrook is going through the Inglis Premier Yearling Sales in March so if she [Prophet’s Thumb] could happen to get black-type it would be a great update to his page,” said Ferguson.
The naming of Prophet's Thumb also carries some meaning. A Prophet’s Thumbprint is known as a small indentation or dimple in a muscle usually found on a horses neck or shoulder.
“The filly was born with a big indentation on her near side neck about the size of a fist, hence when she was born the name Prophet’s Thumb was registered immediately." - James Ferguson
“The filly was born with a big indentation on her near side neck about the size of a fist, hence when she was born the name Prophet’s Thumb was registered immediately,” said Ferguson.
Aside from being David Pfieffer’s Racing Manager, James Ferguson also runs his own business Ferguson Bloodstock specialising in yearling selection, stallion nominations and purchasing fillies off the track as broodmare prospects.
Racing Manager for David Pfiefer and Bloodstock Agent, James Ferguson
It’s been a rapid rise for Ferguson who at a young age worked alongside some of the most respected names in the industry including a stint with the Queen’s Racing Manager John Warren at Highclere Stud in England. Ferguson assisted Warren at all the major sales before returning to Australia and opening his own business.
Ferguson patiently waited around after the Magic Millions sales for the 2019 Gold Coast Summer Racehorse sale earlier this week and paid $60,000 for a half-sister to Decision Time (Foreplay) a mare named Serious Doubts (Sidereus).
