The winning ways of Sir Alex Ferguson’s racing syndicate show no signs of slowing down. The legendary football manager celebrated a superb double at Newbury’s prestigious winter carnival meeting on Friday, as two of his young horses romped to victory.
Regent’s Stroll Reigns Supreme
In the opening maiden hurdle, it was the unbeaten Regent’s Stroll who continued his rise through the ranks. The imposing five-year-old gelding, trained by Paul Nicholls, made it three wins from three starts with a commanding frontrunning performance.
Nicholls was thrilled to keep Regent’s Stroll in his yard after the horse was purchased for £660,000 by Ferguson’s syndicate at auction in July. The champion trainer said:
“They’ve invested between them all and they’ve got some beautiful horses for the future. They have got a right team of horses now, and it’s good having five or six of them together.”
– Champion trainer Paul Nicholls
After this latest striking victory, Regent’s Stroll was made a 14-1 chance by bookmakers for the Turners Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. This lofty target would pitch him against some of the most exciting young hurdlers in training.
Kalif Du Berlais Kickstarts Chasing Career
Not to be outdone, Kalif Du Berlais bounced back from a fall on his chasing debut last month to land the novice handicap chase, the second race on Newbury’s card. In the hands of rising star jockey Harry Cobden, the progressive five-year-old traveled powerfully throughout before asserting in the home straight.
Ferguson and his partners will be dreaming of even bigger prizes now with Kalif Du Berlais, who was introduced at 50-1 for the Arkle Trophy Novice Chase, the two-mile championship contest at Cheltenham.
Double Delight Caps Memorable Month
This Newbury double comes hot on the heels of a fantastic November for Ferguson’s ownership group, which has seen them amass remarkable sums in prize money:
- £472,000 won by star miler Spirit Dancer in the Bahrain International Trophy
- Over £19,000 added at Newbury with Regent’s Stroll and Kalif Du Berlais
With the jumps season now stepping up a gear, Ferguson will be hoping his red-hot streak continues into 2025. Having achieved virtually all there is to win in his legendary football career, could the jump racing world witness him conquering the famous Cheltenham Festival winner’s enclosure next?
One thing is for certain – with the likes of Regent’s Stroll and Kalif Du Berlais carrying his silks, Sir Alex has assembled a formidable squad of equine talent to cheer home in the months ahead. His rivals in the ownership ranks have been warned – this is one syndicate that means business.
