Sir Alex Ferguson’s Dream Day: ‘Fergie Time’ Delight with £275,000 Winnings from Back-to-Back Victories at Cheltenham Festival, Inside His Racing Circle with Multi-Millionaire Businessman & Toy Manufacturer
Admin 2-3 minutes 15/3/2024
At Cheltenham, Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated TWO consecutive victories, making it a stunning day.
The iconic Manchester United boss was shown grinning broadly shortly after the 25/1 shot. Fergie received his first-ever victory at the festival from Monmiral.
With Fergie, Ged Mason, John and Lisa Hales, and other co-owners of the seven-year-old horse, it is the biggest outsider to win at the festival thus far this week.
Shortly after, the Manchester United legend quadrupled his daily total when 17/2 Protektorat won the Ryanair Chase.
In a nail-biting finish, Fergie’s horse cleared the last jump cleaner than Envoi Allen and raced clear to win.
Additionally, the two victories brought in £275,000, which Fergie and the other co-owners will split.
Following his maiden victory, the former Red Devils manager remarked, “Well that was fantastic, what a jockey.”
He responded, “Oh no, that’s different, that’s different,” when asked if it was the “same buzz as the Champions League.”
Monmiral is “definitely” a champion in the making, he added.
Now that Il Ridotto is competing in the Plate Handicap Chase on Thursday at 4:10 p.m., Fergie will be aiming for a treble.
“I can’t believe this horse has won,” commented jockey Harry Cobden. “I thought he should be 125-1.” The horse was 25-1.
“Well done to Hannah, the trainer who rides him most days. There’s been a huge improvement in the blinkers.
“I’m delighted to have this winner.”
Fergie’s large winnings follow his £945,000 prize for Spirit Dancer’s triumph in Saudi Arabia last month.
In November, when the same horse triumphed in Bahrain, he also collected £500,000.
At Cheltenham, Fergie was seen rejoicing with former England manager Sam Allardyce as Monmiral crossed the finish line.
Bryan Robson, a legend of Manchester United, was also in the Scot’s group at Cheltenham.
Ferguson arrived at the four-day event with six horses to race.
On Thursday, four of those will be in action.
Inside Sir Alex racing circle: Multi-millionaire businessman & toy manufacturer
Legendary former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated a double at Cheltenham on Thursday, with friends toasting victories at the famous festival.
He watched as 25-1 shot Monmiral won the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle before Protektorat romped to victory in the Ryanair Chase at odds of 17-2.
Victory in the Ryanair Chase pocketed him £218,398, with a purse of £56,270 for the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle. His double worked out at a stunning 246/1.
Footage showed Six Alex revelling in the victory with long-time friends Ged Mason and John Hales, as well as stars from sport and the small screen.
Mail Sport takes a closer look at Ferguson’s circle of racing friends.
Ged Mason
Mason is a long-time friend of Sir Alex and is one of the co-owners of his two winning horses on Thursday.
The businessman is the chief executive of Morson International, a British manpower services company. Mason’s father Gerry started Morson International in 1969 from their family home in Eccles.
Mason, who took over the company, was reported to be worth £190m according to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2022.
He is the co-owner of Sale Sharks, leading to Sir Alex visiting the team to deliver a talk last year, as well as being linked to Salford Triathlon and Paul Nicholls stables.
Mason’s jubliant celebrations with the former Man United boss last year memorably led to Sir Alex breaking a rib when Spirit Dancer surged to victory in the Group One Bahrain International Trophy.
He has admitted horse racing is his second love after football and Manchester United.
‘I’m a Red through and through,’ Mason told Greater Mancunians. ‘I was weaned on watching George Best and Denis Law. How could you not be hooked on it after that? Football is still my first love but racing is a very close second.’
John Hales
Hales and his wife Lisa are also co-owners of Six Alex’s triumphant horses.
The businessman is the co-owner of Golden Bear Toys, a company he founded with Christine Nicholls back in 1979.
The toy company is known for producing products from major children’s shows including the Teletubbies, Basil Brush, Thomas the Tank Engine, and In The Night Garden.
Golden Bear Toys previously won the rights to sell the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville.
Ferguson has credited Mason and Hales for him becoming involved in jump racing.
‘I’ve waited a long time for this, but it is fantastic,’ Ferguson said on Thursday.
‘It has been probably 20 years that I’ve wanted to have a winner here as when I first started I just had Flat horses and no National Hunt ones. I got interested in the jumps with Ged (Mason) and John (Hales).
‘It 100 per cent makes it more enjoyable having a winner with friends. Everyone looks forward to Cheltenham while on the Flat you have the Derby. These two events are unsurpassed.’
Alan Halsall
The Coronation Street actor was also seen in the jubliant celebrations on Thursday as part of the Ferguson party.
Halsall is known for playing Tyrone Dobbs in the soap opera, a role has has had since 1998.
The 41-year-old won the Outstanding Serial Drama Performance honour at the National Television Awards in 2013, as well as the Best Actor prize at the British Soap Awards the same year.
Halsall is a Manchester United supporter and hailed Sir Alex’s managerial career back in 2012.
‘Sir Alex Ferguson. 26 years, 1,461 games, 871 wins, 330 draws, 260 defeats, 37 trophies yes that’s 37!!!!! Thank you Sir Alex,’ Halsall wrote.
Sam Allardyce
Allardyce was also among the onlookers on Thursday to support his former Premier League managerial rival and long-time friend.
The 69-year-old accidently photo bombed Princess Beatrice, with Big Sam accidentally walking in front of her while her photo was being taken.
Allardyce has managed over 1,000 matches during his managerial career, most notably at Bolton and West Ham.
The veteran boss was most recently the manager of Leeds, but was unable to keep the club in the Premier League after taking charge of the final four matches of last season.
Allardyce previously credited Sir Alex with helping him bounce back after losing the England job after one match in 2016.
Bryan Robson
Sir Alex named Robson as his best Manchester United captain back in 2021.
Robson and Ferguson won six trophies together with the tally including back-to-back Premier League titles in 1993 and 1994. The duo also lifted the 1990 FA Cup, the League Cup in 1992 and the 1991 Cup Winners’ Cup at Old Trafford.
The midfielder had been dubbed ‘Captain Marvel’ by Manchester United fans during his time as skipper.
Mail Sport’s Dominic King reported that Sir Alex had not also been a fan of racing after he banned Robson from attending races at Haydock Park during his career.
Six Alex Ferguson’s multi-million horse empire
Protektorat and Monmiral were two of six horses owned by the legendary former Man United boss to run at Cheltenham.
Hitman and Il Ridoto have also run at the festival this week, while Sir Alex has hope of achieving a Treble with two runners on Friday.
L’Eau Du Sud will compete in the County Handicap Hurdle, before Sonigino runs in the Martin Pipe Handicap.
Ferguson has been involved in racing for over 25 years, with Queensland Star his runner in April 1998. He also famously was the co-owner of Rock of Gibraltar, which later became subject to a ownership dispute.
In total, Ferguson owns or co-owns 32 horses now and is involved in the breeding industry, with cheques totalling £650,000 at the sales.
