Extra Distance Ideal

The Informant writes that the extra distance for Gingernuts should be ideal for this Saturday's Group 1 Windsor Park Plate -

Three weeks on from a pleasing first-up run in the Tarzino Trophy, dual Group One winner Gingernuts is set to return to Hastings to make even more of a splash this weekend.

Last season's New Zealand Derby and Rosehill Guineas hero will step up to 1600 metres for the Gr. 1 Windsor Park Plate, with the TAB rating him an equal $4.50 favourite alongside the defending champion Kawi.

After being hampered 350 metres from home in the Tarzino Trophy, Gingernuts produced one of the biggest finishing sprints in the race to cross the finish line in fifth place and less than three lengths from the winner Close Up.

“You could say he was a little bit stiff,” co-trainer Jamie Richards told www.theinformant.co.nz this afternoon. “He got into some trouble at the top of the straight and was knocked off balance. But once Opie (Bosson) got him into the clear he got going really well, and his final furlong (200 metres) was very strong.

“He's come through the race very well and we're happy with his progress. Obviously that was just his first-up run and there's still a long way to go yet in terms of the bigger things that might be ahead of him later in the spring. But we're happy with where we're at with him at the moment.

“He's been working very nicely at home and the three weeks between races and stepping up to 1600 metres on Saturday will be ideal for him.”

Richards and training partner Stephen Autridge also have imported stayer Chance To Dance nominated for Saturday's race, but he is 19th in the order of entry with only 14 allowed to start. The Listed Karaka Classic at Pukekohe on Sunday is the back-up plan, with the Gr. 1 Livamol Classic on the final day of the Hawke's Bay carnival his main aim.