John Ferguson to leave training ranks for new Godolphin role

John Ferguson will hand in his training licence at the end of April 2016 to take up a new role with Godolphin.

As well as training a string of National Hunt horses, Ferguson is currently bloodstock advisor to Sheikh Mohammed but he will now become chief executive and racing manager of a "re-shaped and streamlined" Godolphin.

The global racing operation is to merge with Sheikh Mohammed's breeding operation, Darley, who will "be used solely as a brand to promote stallions", read a statement.

The best of Ferguson's horses will join Charlie Appleby, with Ferguson's staff at Bloomfields, in Newmarket, also offered the chance to join Godolphin.

However, Appleby was quick to stress he would not be taking out a dual licence.

"I won't be training any jumpers," said Appleby.

"There'll be no dual licence, what will happen is the best of John's horses will come back to race on the Flat, some of them still have pretty lofty ratings.

"It will be nice to add some four- and five-year-olds to our string as we have a lot of younger horses at Moulton Paddocks, we haven't had the older ones before.

"It's exciting to have those type of horses and it will give us a nice balance."

"I am extremely proud of the team at Bloomfields and the excellent job they have done over the past five years," Ferguson told www.godolphin.com.

"They are a fantastic group who have given everything to the stable and I am very grateful for their hard work.

"It is an exciting new chapter in the Godolphin story. Our long-term objective is to improve on Godolphin's results on the racetrack.

"I feel honoured to be appointed chief executive and racing manager, but I realise that it will require more of my time and attention.

"I will miss the training. Jumps racing has always been one of my sporting passions, and I love the involvement.

"I am very grateful to Sheikh Mohammed for giving me the horses to send jumping in the first place.

"In fact, he wanted me to continue, but I could see that Godolphin must always be a priority and requires my undivided attention.

"It makes sense for the racing and breeding operations to merge. One is sourcing the other, and a well-planned, common strategy can only strengthen both.

"We must ensure that Godolphin continues to represent excellence in racing, and that the brand serves as a constant reminder of the vibrancy and energy of Dubai."

Ferguson began training in 2011-12 and nearly struck at the Cheltenham Festival in his first season when New Year's Eve finished second in the Champion Bumper.

He has two Grade One wins to his name, those of Ruacana in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow in 2013 and Parlour Games in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury last year.

The news can be viewed as blow to Aidan Coleman, who was appointed Ferguson's retained jockey in July.

John Ferguson: Five Of The Best

1 Parlour Games

A top-class handicapper on the level, like most of Ferguson's string, he emerged as one of the best novice hurdlers of last season, winning the Challow Hurdle at Newbury and finishing second in both the Neptune at Cheltenham and the Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

2 Purple Bay

Unraced on the Flat, he finished fifth in the Cheltenham Bumper in his first season, and won the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen and the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. He was also second to Faugheen in the Christmas Hurdle last year.

3 Sea Lord

A multiple winner for Mark Johnston, he was expertly placed by Ferguson to claim six consecutive races, culminating in a Listed event at Kempton, to earn a rating of 150.

4 Cotton Mill

Who knows what might have happened had Cotton Mill not broken through the rails before the second-last flight of the Neptune Novices' Hurdle of 2012 when in front and still travelling well. History tells us he would have needed to have been better than he had subsequently shown to have beaten Simonsig that day but, for a while, Ferguson must have been in dreamland.

5 Ruacana

While no superstar, he will surely hold a dear place in Ferguson's heart as his first Grade One winner, at Chepstow in January 2013. Although he was maybe fortunate with Swnymor tipping up at the last, Ruacana's top-level form is in the record books.