Fergus "Fergie" Sutherland was an Irish[1] National Hunt trainer and soldier, who was best known for training Imperial Call to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1996.
[3] He spent his summers at the Somerset seaside village of Porlock where prominent trainer Dick Hern taught him how to ride.
[2] In 1957 he began his horse training career at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket as assistant to Geoffrey Brooke.
[4][6] In 1967 Sutherland moved to County Cork in Ireland, when he heard his mother was contemplating selling Aghinagh House in Killinardrish.
[2] After an impressive start to the 1996 racing season, Imperial Call ridden by Wexford born Jockey Conor O'Dwyer, beat Master Oats by six lengths to win the Hennessy at Leopardstown.
He was Sutherland's first runner at the festival and became the first Irish-trained horse since Dawn Run ten years previously to capture the "blue riband event".