Gingernuts Back in Training

The Informant's Dennis Ryan reports:

The temptation of a huge overseas offer hasn't been enough to sway the syndicate that races New Zealand Derby winner from dreams of victory in Australia's greatest arena in the spring.

Syndicate manager David Ellis today revealed that an offer of $3 million was recently turned down for the dual Group One winner and he has returned to training with Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards with the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups on his new season agenda.

“You've got to take your hat off to them, they're good sports, the sort of people New Zealand racing needs,” Ellis told www.theinformant.co.nz when unveiling plans for the Iffraaj gelding. “They considered the offer but they've told me they're in racing for the fun, to hopefully see their colours in the big spring cups.

“All credit to them; they're real racing people.”

Ellis selected Gingernuts as a Karaka Ready to Run two-year-old and from nine starts since, the chestnut has converted his $42,500 purchase price into more than $1 million in stakes headed by his victories in the Gr. 1 New Zealand Derby and Rosehill Guineas.

Gingernuts went for a spell at Te Akau Stud following his return from the Sydney autumn carnival, putting on 50 kilograms in bodyweight.

“He's so relaxed and easy to deal with, he absolutely thrived during his time out on the farm,” Ellis said. “I think it's great that this is one horse we haven't lost to overseas interest and now we can look forward to taking him to Melbourne for the spring carnival.”

Meanwhile Gingernuts' two-year-old brother Griffin, who made such an impression in his debut win at Matamata earlier this month, is enjoying a let-up before returning to work for his spring preparation.

“On what he's already shown us he looks a serious horse too, so his spring target will be the New Zealand 2000 Guineas,” Ellis added.

“It's likely that we'll follow the same programme that has worked so well for us before and send him south early to race in races like the Ray Coupland Stakes and Canterbury Stakes before the 2000 Guineas.”