Consistent Crackerjack primed for Country Cup
Garrick Knight - Raceform • November 14th, 2025 9:04 AM • 3 min read
The Cambridge sophomore tackles the $20,000 Thames Trotters Country Cup on his home track on Friday night, and punters can once again back him with confidence.
He’s filled a top-three placing in his last eight runs and has run top-four in 13 of his 15 career runs, one of the only misses being at Group One level.
“He’s an exciting horse and probably the best one in our stable,” said Jo Ferguson, who trains him in partnership with husband Dylan.
“We had hoped to have him down south at Addington by now for a few features, but he’s an interrupted preparation due to a hoof abscess.”
Crackerjack resumed from his setback with a hard-finishing second behind Hillbilly Blues at Alexandra Park a fortnight ago, and there is every indication he can go one better this week.
“We do think he’s quite smart and we’re expecting a good run from him.”
The stable’s last-start winner Rubble On The Double will race with a pall hanging over him this week. His popular Auckland part-owner Gary Williams died suddenly and tragically while swimming last Saturday.
Williams raced too many good horses to mention – in both equine codes – and was a weekly figure at Alexandra Park as a Racenight Steward.
“Rubble will need everything to go his way in a strong field this week, but he has the advantage of an angel sitting on his shoulder.
“Gary loved the industry, and he was everyone’s biggest supporter. Dylan and I were so grateful for his support, not just as an owner, but just with a congratulations when other horses won too. He was such a lovely man, and his loss will be widely felt across the industry up here.”
Rubble On The Double is on the comeback trail from a wind operation, and that last-start win in easier company will be key, according to Ferguson.
“He went in the wind, which was very tough on him mentally, so it’s been a case of building up his confidence again. That win will do him good, but he meets a quality field this week and is off a handicap.”
Miki’s Moment is a former Central Districts pacer that is second-up for the stable and nearly caused an upset in a low-grade meeting a few weeks ago.
“It was a really good run. The plan was to drive him quietly, but he came off the gate so well, ‘Fergy’ (driver Peter Ferguson) went to Plan B.
“He came to us from Doug Gale needing to train and race in company more often because he was quite green. With a run under his belt this week, I don’t think the second row will work out too badly for him.”
South Sydney is another recent acquisition, and the maiden trotter has started off her northern campaign well with a couple of placings.
“Ben Hope sent her north for a fresh set of eyes and some varied training because she had let him down a few times. We’ve done a bit of riding under saddle with her and arena work, to take her mind off going round and round the track.
“She had her chance first-up, but she was better last time at Auckland, chasing the first two the whole way.
“It’s a full field with race winners off only 20 metres, which makes her job harder.”
In other news, Ferguson was looking excitedly towards Saturday at Riccarton, when a horse she has a share in, Romanoff, tackles the $700,000 Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
“It’s very exciting to have a runner in such a big race. I have shares in a few with Pam Gerard, and she and Tommy Hazlett (partner) are in Rubble On The Double with us.”
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