Gingernuts Supreme in Windsor Park Thriller

The Informant reports:

Gingernuts landed a flood of big bets and booked his place in the Caulfield Cup with a hard-fought win over Close Up and Kawi in the Windsor Park Plate at Hastings today.

After vying for favouritism with defending title-holder Kawi in the days leading up to the second Group One of the Hawke's Bay spring carnival, Gingernuts was the only horses punters wanted in the final countdown. Led by a single bet of $10,000 at $3.20, the weight of money brought him into $2.70 at one late stage and when the field jumped his odds were $2.90.

But that was all academic to those closest to the New Zealand Derby winner, trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, jockey Opie Bosson and the horde of G-Nuts cap wearers on course to cheer their hero home.

It was vintage Bosson as he found a midfield spot three wide with cover for the favourite and built his momentum making the final turn. Directly inside him Kawi was up for the fight, while further in the Tarzino Trophy winner was right into action.

Those three singled themselves out for a battle royal, then as Kawi began to fade it was down to a fight between Gingernuts and Close Up. As hard as Close Up tried, Gingernuts appeared to have his measure and at the line the margin was a long neck.

Kawi finished a length and a quarter behind, but that margin would have been less but for the gap ahead of him closing in the final strides before the line.

“He'll improve heaps,” declared Bosson as he unsaddled the chestnut.

That was music to the ears of Autridge and Richards, enough to tell them Gingernuts is right on target for what lies ahead.

“He's where he needs to be, for sure,” responded Richards, while Autridge left little doubt where their next mission would be.

“Unless they think that was good enough to beat Winx, we'll be back here,” he said in reference to the Livamol Classic at Hastings on October 7.

That race fits in neatly with the next big challenge in Gingernuts' career, the Caulfield Cup in Melbourne another fortnight later.

Runner-up Close Up was given a lovely trip by Grant Cooksley ticked in behind the pace and once again earned the admiration of his trainer Shelley Hale.

“How could I wish for more from him?” she said. “He's tough as teak.”

There was a lot to like also with the efforts of several runners that finished right behind the major placegetters. Underthemoonlight put in strong work over the final 300 metres to come from third last and finish fourth, while Volkstok'n'barrell crossed the line fifth after having to pick his way through traffic.