Ferguson Excited for Queensland carnvial

3 min read
James Ferguson plays a number of roles within the thoroughbred industry and through the talented mare I Am Excited (Snitzel) he’ll be directly involved in two of them when the Queensland carnival swings into action at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Ferguson acts as racing manager to the 4-year-old’s Warwick Farm conditioner David Pfieffer with the mare’s ownership syndicate including Ferguson’s parents Andrew and Georgie, of Bell River Thoroughbreds.

The successful New South Wales breeding nursery is making a return to the industry following a hiatus after the sale of their former base at Wellington.

“We’ve been going non-stop since December getting everything organised to get our horses here in August.” – James Ferguson.

Ferguson is heavily involved in the development of a 170 acre property at Dungog, which features more than 2km of frontage to the Williams River.

James Ferguson

“We’ve purchased a new farm and still trading under the same name,” he said. “It’s only two, two and a-half hours from Sydney, 40 minutes from the Newcastle Airport and within one or two hours of the all the Hunter Valley studs.

“It’s a complete bare block. We started from scratch so there’s plenty of work to be done. We’ve been going non-stop since December getting everything organised to get our horses here in August. We’re planning to have drafts next year at the sales.”

“We started from scratch so there’s plenty of work to be done. “ – James Ferguson.

I Am Excited will run in Saturday’s G2 TAB Victory S. and is in Queensland to further her future broodmare worth, although is already a valuable mare with success in the G2 Gilgai S. and two wins at Listed level.

She is a half-sister to the G3 Frances Tressaday S. winner Flippant (Hinchinbrook) with the pair out of Lady Beckworth (General Nediym) and the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) and her G1 Thousand Guineas winning half-sister Commanding Jewel (Commands).

Sixth in the G1 Galaxy two runs back, I Am Excited finished a last-start eighth in the G2 Sapphire S. at Randwick.

“We’ve had a few niggling issues with her and I dare say she needed her run in the Sapphire the other day,” said Ferguson, who also operates his own bloodstock agency.

“It’s definitely exciting and there could possibly be an upset.” – James Ferguson.

“She’s since improved and obviously we’re taking on the champ Redzel, but pretty confident seeing how much she has come on in the last two weeks. It’s definitely exciting and there could possibly be an upset.”

Third in the Victory S. last year behind Impending (Lonhro), I Am Excited will be ridden by Blake Shinn.

“We took her away for a little trip and she proved her mark as a 3-year-old at weight-for-age,” Ferguson said. “That preparation brought her on significantly for her 4-year-old campaign.

“It’s all systems go now and hopefully onto the rest of the Brisbane carnival. We’ve got some goals in mind, whether or not she gets there is a different story.

“A programme is in place, but it has to be race by race and if we can improve on her black type record for her broodmare career it will all be a bonus for us.”

I Am Excited