Gingernuts - The Ride So Far

Gingernuts is described in Australia as “the Kiwi cult horse”.  He has amassed a huge army of fans and supporters, a following earned through his stellar Group victories on both sides of the Tasman this season.

No-one could have guessed what was going to unfold after two year old Gingernuts won in May last year at Hastings at just his second start.  He has previously finished second on debut to Te Akau’s subsequent Group 1 winner Hall of Fame.

An injury set back threw a spanner into the start of his three year old campaign with Gingernuts not being able to trial until December and return to racing on New Year’s eve with a tidy fourth placing.  Despite finishing well back at his next start he bounced back to win well at Te Teko on 30 January giving the team confidence that he at least deserved a shot at the Group 2 Avondale Guineas.

This is the race that announced the serious arrival of “G-Nuts” and his wonderful owners who proudly sport their caps in his honour.

On 18 February hearts sunk as “Jerry” ( as we know him) blew the start in the $100,000 Group 2 Avondale Guineas by six lengths (to quote the stipes’ report).  He was again inconvenienced at the 400m but his dramatic “last to first” finishing burst stunned even the hardiest of commentators with media reports declaring his win “the performance of the season”.  His win saw him deafeat Charles Road and subsequent Sydney Group 3 Frank Packer Plate winner Mongolian Wolf.

It had to be seen to be believed.

The serious decision was taken to pay the late entry fee into the $1 million Group 1 New Zealand Derby which boasts an honour roll like no other.  This iconic race was being run for the 142^nd time and engraved on its trophy are some of the names of some of New Zealand’s racing legends … Desert Gold, Gloaming, Night March, Dalray, Balmerino, Uncle Remus, Bonecrusher, Tidal Light, Castletown and more recently Xcellent, Silent Achiever and Mongolian Khan.

Some journalists suggested perhaps the stunning Avondale Guineas had been a fluke, or a “one-off” – we knew better and were quietly confident heading into the most prestigious and historic race on the New Zealand calendar.  Punters thought better of Gingernuts too, installing him as second favourite for the big event.

Derby Day came – the caps were donned and the G-Nuts army descended upon Ellerslie.  Nervous anticipation and again a stipes’ report stating “bumped and forced wider round final turn near 400, again bumped at the 350” so not everything went his way but after 2.28.27 minutes he downed Rising Red, Jon Snow, Beaumarchais and Sacred Elixir.

Yes Gingernuts stunned everyone again and confirmed what we already knew – he is a star!

Next stop Australia – and a Heavy track to contend with for the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas – and a bunch of high class Australian opponents who thought they would run rings around our champ – “Jerry” had other ideas and blitzed his rivals, easing down and taking in the scenery with an easy victory.

Part of Gingernuts’ success is his versatility – he won on a Slow8 at Te Teko, a Good3 at Avondale and a Heavy track in Sydney.  Most of his success is due to his huge heart, his will to win and his unflappable nature – such a kind horse that you can do anything with.

He wouldn’t be the horse he is today without three other major factors – firstly being snapped up by the eagle eye of David Ellis and purchased for just $42,500; being trained by the superb horsemen in Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, assisted by a world class stable team and rider in Opie Bosson; and of course being the hero of his owners who proudly wear their hearts on their sleeves and those caps on their heads.

Today, Gingernuts has won five of his nine starts and placed on three other occasions.  His prizemoney earnings stand at $1,093,422.

Thank you for making Gingernuts easily the most loved and exciting horse of the season – social media adores him and rightly so, he is an adorable boy.  He deserves the accolades as he gives and gives and gives and has given us so much fun and laughter and pride this season.

Recently we had a celebratory afternoon at Te Akau Stud with Gingernuts’ owners.  We toasted the season of success – a trans-Tasman Group 1 and the Group 2 Avondale Guineas – and we enjoyed this wonderful compilation of his season’s highlights put together by Julia-Rose which we share with you here.  We talked about what the future of Gingernuts’ might hold with his ownership turning down a $3 million offer as dreams of Melbourne sit on the horizon.

Then we all spent time with “Jerry” himself – and his full brother Griffin who had recently won on debut.

No-one can know what the future holds but the dream is bold and alive and we can’t wait – no matter what, our 3YO Gingernuts’ has given us the experience of all of our lives and he is quite simply, our hero.