Gingernuts Crunches 3rd Grp 1

Given a super ride by Opie Bosson, Gingernuts (4 g Iffraaj - Double Elle, by Generous) did the rest to win the $200,000 Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Saturday 23 September at Hastings.

Recording his third Group One win in under 12 months, to go with the New Zealand Derby (2400m), and Rosehill Guineas (2000m), Gingernuts had resumed on the same course three weeks beforehand in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) and after being checked around the home turn he made solid inroads to finish within three lengths of the winner, fifth.

Stepping up to a mile certainly was a key component in the victory but as too was a performance in the saddle by Bosson. Tenth in running, tracking second favourite Kawi (Savabeel) in the three wide line, Bosson was aware the outside going was the place to be and after sustaining a big run Gingernuts won narrowly but well.

On Slow9 footing, Gingernuts ran the 1600 metres in 1:40.1 and after fixed odds of $4.50 & $1.80 being available leading up to the race he paid $2.90 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $42,500 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Goodwood Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Gingernuts' Syndicate and managed by David Ellis, he has now won six of his 11 starts and over $1.2 million in prize money.

Early in his spring campaign, trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, along with Ellis, and connections will now ponder his chosen path, but a return to the same venue in a fortnight (Oct. 7) for the $250,000 Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) could act as an ideal lead up to the $3m Caulfield Cup (Gr. 1, 2400m) on 21 October at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne.

“It was a pretty impressive win,” Ellis said. “He's really coming up well. I went over to see him at the stables on Thursday afternoon and I can see he's a got a lot of improvement yet. He still hasn't lost his winter coat. He looks great in the eye and he's just such a happy horse.

“I was thrilled for Mason Stevens who looks after him. He's our foreman in the barn that Gingernuts is in and he's a young guy that the sky is the limit for and he's doing a really good job for us.   It was exciting for Steve and Jamie, because you can see that they've got the horse exactly where they want him for the Caulfield Cup, and it was a great ride by Opie.”

Jamie Richards said: “Obviously he's a very good staying horse and to win as a four-year-old at weight-for-age is a great effort.

“A big thanks to the team at home. They've done a great job with this horse, from when he spelled at Te Akau Stud, coming back from Sydney, to all the work that's been done at the stable: the track work riders, farriers, everybody that's involved in the horse has played their part and we couldn't be more pleased with the result.

“He's come back in really good order. Dave (Ellis) bought him at the Ready to Run Sale and didn't pay a lot for him and there's a great team of owners in this horse, and we couldn't be happier with where he's at.

“The hats say it all - G-Nuts - and a very good owner of ours Bill Taylor has got a van with Gingernuts written on the side, so it's great for racing and great to be a part of it.”

Richards said that no decisions would be made immediately regarding the path for Gingernuts, adding:

“We'll have a chat to Dave (Ellis) in the morning and see how he pulls up, but we're very pleased with how the horse is going and it was a super ride by Opie.”

Opie Bosson said: “He will improve heaps in fitness and mentally, as well. He's still a boy, gawks around and does a few things wrong. I think the more racing he has, more practice, the better he's going to be.

“I was confident the whole way. I got in behind Kawi and he gave me a beautiful track into the race. The only time I was worried was about the 200m mark when I ranged up and he had a bit of a gawk around, but he knuckled down when the other horse got up beside me. It was very pleasing. He handles most types of ground, so even if it was a little bit wet in Australia it would be ideal.

“It's great to win in these colours and it's awesome for the owners.”

Windsor Park Stud co-owner and stud manager Rodney Schick said:

“It's a pleasure to sponsor this race and congratulations to Gingernuts and the Te Akau team. They're a fantastic outfit, headed by DC (David Ellis) who received the Outstanding Contribution to Racing at the Racing Awards. He's a huge part of New Zealand racing and he selected this horse out of the Ready to Run Sale and what a great job he's done.

“To the Gingernuts' team, they've represented us so well in Australia and it's great to see the enthusiasm they have. It's great for racing.

“It was an excellent ride by Opie, and thank you all on behalf of the Windsor Park team.”

Owner representative Blair Alexander said:

“First of all I'd like to say a big thank you to the sponsors, Windsor Park for investing in this race. A lot of our owners are advertising people and we really appreciate it and get it and understand it.

“Thank you to Steve and Jamie for their training effort with this horse and huge thanks to David Ellis for picking this horse out at the Ready to Run Sale. He's been absolutely brilliant at getting new people into this industry. With this horse, he was trialling four months after we got him, racing after six months, so it was a shortcut process and the Ready to Run Sale is coming up again soon.

“We have an awesome bunch of owners. We're having a great journey and just hope it continues and thanks Opie for another great ride on G-Nuts. And also to the dude, Gingernuts, he's a wicked little fella and we've got some exciting times ahead of us.”

Accepting on behalf of the trainers, Jamie Richards said:

“Thank you to the Chairman and Committee of the Hawkes Bay Racing Club. It's a pleasure to accept this award on behalf of Steve and I. We would like to thank the Windsor Park team: Rodney and Gina (Schick), Michael (Moran), Steve (Till) and all the team there, it's a big operation. They've got a lot of first season stallions and really getting in behind the industry, trying to get us going.

“Opie rode a super race and we were very proud of how the horse hit the line for a great win.

“And last, but not least, thanks to the bloke that makes it all happen - David Ellis. He's been my number one supporter for a long time and together Steve and I are having a great run with the horses that he's purchased and syndicated. So, without him our job is very difficult.”

Opie Bosson said:

First of all I'd like to thank Windsor Park Stud for sponsoring this race. Thank you to Stephen Autridge, Jamie Richards, David Ellis, and the whole Gingernuts' team. They're a great bunch to ride for and it gives me a huge thrill every time I get a big win for them. It's very much appreciated, so thank you all very much.”

Ellis added:

“It's been an exciting day for us with Burgundy siring the winner of the Gold Trail Stakes. For a long time, I've been telling everyone that listens how far Burgundy is going to go as a stallion and I've sent thirteen mares to him this year. He's a really exciting sire and quite rightly is nearly fully booked for this season at Cambridge Stud.

“She (Gold Trail winner Dijon Bleu) was impressive in the last one-hundred metres and should have no trouble getting a mile. She buried them.”

Gingernuts was strapped by Mason Stevens.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz