Former point-to-point rider Jamie Sloan has taken over the reins from one of Northern Ireland’s most successful handlers Ian Ferguson.
The Ballymena-based handler has been synonymous with point-to-point racing in the region for a number of decades, introducing a number of subsequent track stars, including Simonsig, whilst also playing a key role in the purchase of young horses for owner Wilson Dennison among others.
Ferguson, who has previously received the ITBA Northern Region Hall Of Fame Award for Outstanding Achievement, and sent out Zemsky to win 2011 Cheltenham Foxhunters, has elected to direct more of his time on sourcing horses, handing over the training of point-to-pointers at his stable to the 27-year-old.
“I have always been with Ian since I was in school working summers here and things like that. I actually got started with horses here, so I have always been in and out of the yard. Ian asked me then if I wanted to take over the reins this year and so I have horses for Wilson Dennison and Ronnie Bartlett,” said the Broughshane native who is also open to receiving horses from new owners.
“Ian is around to give me a hand and just to help me out if I ever need him, but he is doing a lot of the sales now and getting move involved with that side of things.”
The former point-to-point rider began his race-riding when based with Enda Bolger, having found his way to Howardstown House in Limerick after what he describes as an invaluable time on the Curragh with Tracey Collins.
“I went down to RACE from Ian’s and graduated from there to go work with Tracey Collins for a year and a half. I learned an awful lot from Tracey and had a couple of bumper spins for her.
“Then I saw that Enda Bolger was advertising in the paper. I rang him up one lunchtime and we were probably on the phone for about 40 minutes just having the craic.
"I went down there for a trial day and Nina Carberry and John Thomas McNamara were all there and Enda said that I could start full time if I wanted. I learned an awful lot from John Thomas when I was there,” said Sloan who returned victorious to the winner’s enclosure in the famous JP McManus colours on just his third ride for Bolger, when Doctor Pat won over the banks at Athlacca.
“Then I saw that Enda Bolger was advertising in the paper. I rang him up one lunchtime and we were probably on the phone for about 40 minutes just having the craic.
"I went down there for a trial day and Nina Carberry and John Thomas McNamara were all there and Enda said that I could start full time if I wanted. I learned an awful lot from John Thomas when I was there,” said Sloan who returned victorious to the winner’s enclosure in the famous JP McManus colours on just his third ride for Bolger, when Doctor Pat won over the banks at Athlacca.
A spell in France with Philip and Louisa Carberry took an unfortunate turn when he broke his leg following a kick from a horse during 12 months with the pair, before he returned home and re-joined Ferguson.
“I have been with Ian for the last couple of years and then last year I took on a bit more responsibility around the yard and he was sort of leading me into this role now.
“It has been good so far. I learned a lot from Tracey, Enda and Louisa, just the different training methods. You pick up what you like and what you don’t like doing with the horses and just try to make your own way with it. It’s obviously not easy, but hopefully we can get a couple of winners this season.”
Taking over Ferguson’s stable has ensured he has inherited an enviable team of well-bred youngsters for powerful owners Wilson Dennison and Ronnie Bartlett.
Of the 12 horses currently under his care, eight have been hunter certed already, and they include Dusart, a four-year-old half-brother to Simonsig, arguably his mentors most notable export from the point-to-point fields.
Of the 12 horses currently under his care, eight have been hunter certed already, and they include Dusart, a four-year-old half-brother to Simonsig, arguably his mentors most notable export from the point-to-point fields.
Gallyhill, who could be his first runner, holds an entry for the Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden at Loughanmore, in the ownership of the race sponsor Wilson Dennison and is well related.
The Getaway gelding is a half-brother of the seven-time winner Nortonthorpelegend and is out of a Darley-bred mare that finished second in Germany over 1600m at Cologne.
He is one of four Dennison-owned horses that feature among the 37 possible runners, with the three others trained locally by Colin McKeever, although Sloan has yet to decide if he will take up his potential engagement at the East Antrim point-to-point.
“He is a nice young horse, but I just think he might be a week short of running. He will probably be my first horse to run this season anyway. There is also a Robin Des Champs of Ronnie Bartlett’s (Parkgate) that might go to Loughbrickland – they will be my first two out.
“I also have a Flemensfirth half-brother to Simonsig that is a big scopey horse who I’m looking forward to running in the spring.
“I couldn’t have fallen on my feet with better horses to be honest.”
That position certainly hasn’t been handed to him, and under the tutelage of one of the shrewdest judges within the region, his name is one that is likely to rise in prominence over the years to come.
