Bell River Thoroughbreds thrilled with Doubt
“For a small farm like us, it’s an unbelievable result.”
That was Andrew Ferguson‘s reaction after Bell River Thoroughbreds’ colt by Not A Single Doubt from Fleecing sold for the equal-highest price of $170,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale on Monday. The buyer was leading Perth trainer Neville Parnham.
Pictured: Andrew, Jock, James & Georgie Ferguson of Bell River Thoroughbreds with their sale-topping Not A Single Doubt colt. (PHOTO: Arrowfield Stud)
It is the best price achieved by Andrew and his wife Georgie in the ten years they have been breeding horses on their property near Wellington, in inland New South Wales. It’s also a fitting reward for one of Not A Single Doubt’s most enthusiastic admirers.
Andrew says, “I’ve been a fan of Not A Single Doubt from the start. Georgie’s stepfather, the late Bruce Reid, had a share in him as a racehorse and we all knew he was a Group One quality horse who didn’t quite produce it on the track.”
The Fergusons manage 25 mares owned in partnership with a small group of private clients and have bred & sold about a dozen foals by the son of Redoute’s Choice since 2007. Earlier this month their filly by him from Magic Zefta was purchased for $95,000 by Star Thoroughbreds from the Arrowfield draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.
So far, the resulting performers include Lionize (a winner & stakes-placed at two in South Africa), Hong Kong winner Seasons Star, Conroy’s Gap, a brother to their Classic sale-topper and, as it happens, Our Single Doubt who has his first start in Saturday’s Blue Diamond Preview LR at Caulfield.
The Fergusons have also pin-hooked several of Not A Single Doubt’s progeny, among them city winners My Cookie Monster and Take This Waltz.
The sale-ring outcomes have been more than satisfying, with 18 Bell River yearlings by Not A Single Doubt sold for a healthy seven-figure total.
Fleecing is a city-winning daughter of Anabaa from a half-sister to Group 1 winner Aragen and Annuity, dam of Not A Single Doubt’s son Cavallo Pazzo, a dual stakeswinner in Perth earlier this season. Fleecing has a 2012 filly by Not A Single Doubt and Bell River has two other mares, Arthur’s Lass and Cool As Oh, in foal to him.
The farm will present a particularly interesting Not A Single Doubt colt at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale in March. He’s from Lady Beckworth, a half-sister to the dam of champion filly Atlantic Jewel and Group 1 winner Commanding Jewel.
However, there’s more behind the Fergusons’ success than a singular dedication to Not A Single Doubt. Andrew says, “Georgie has a wonderful eye for horses, she’s the backbone of the whole thing, and it’s great that we’re all here as a family.” Sons James 16, and Jock 14, are keen members of the Bell River team and were on hand to share a very happy day at the Inglis Newmarket Stables.
