Gingernuts Humming in Derby Countdown

The Informant's Dennis Ryan reports:

Australian Derby favourite Gingernuts is doing everything right as he bids for a fifth straight win in Saturday's Randwick classic.

Co-trainer Jamie Richards, who has been with the Iffraaj gelding since landing in Sydney two weeks ago, reports that a Randwick course proper gallop this morning with a member of the Waterhouse/Bott stable has kept him on target.

“He went with one of Gai's, a High Chaparral that won his last start, and did all that I wanted,” Richards told www.theinformant.co.nz. “They weren't asked to do a lot, just maintenance work and they appeared to do it well.

“Gai's clocker had them running their last 600 in around 37.5, which he said was up with the standard for the morning.  Everything's gone to plan, he's come on nicely from his Rosehill Guineas win, so I really couldn't be happier with him heading into the weekend.”

The Sydney weather has made a welcome turn for the better in recent days and the Randwick track is improving accordingly, but Richards said that further rain was forecast later in the week.

“They're predicting rain on Thursday, but we don't have to worry too much about that given his form in wet ground.”

A big group of G-Nuts cap-wearing syndicate members and supporters is set to hit Sydney this weekend. Among them will be leading jockey Matt Cameron, the rider of Gingernuts in the first win of his current sequence and the partner of Blair Alexander, who pulled together the majority of the Gingernuts syndicate.

“Matt's decided to bypass the big day at Awapuni and come over to Sydney,” Alexander said. “He played a big part in the horse's early career and besides, he's enjoying what he's doing now as much as any of us.”

Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes day remains a key focus for Richards and his training partner Stephen Autridge, who have no less than four Te Akau stable runners entered.

The quartet is headed by Karaka Million winner Melody Belle and Matamata Breeders' Stakes winner and Diamond Stakes placegetter Gold Fever. Summer Monsoon will take a solid formline into Saturday's 1400-metre contest, with a last-start second in the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper to subsequent Diamond Stakes winner Summer Passage.

The only non-winner in the Te Akau contingent is Encosta De Lago filly Swing Note, who has been placed in all three starts to date, most recently when second to weekend race rival Joyfilly on her home track a fortnight ago.

“Talking to Steve just before, all four of them worked well on the Matamata course proper this morning, so we're in with a big shout there,” added Richards.