Wide Livamol Draw No Major Concern

The Informant reports:

The Gingernuts camp isn't losing any sleep over the wide draw handed to their stable star in Saturday's Livamol Classic.

Gingernuts was allocated the outside gate in the capacity 16-horse field that will jump from what can be a tricky spot at the Hastings 2040-metre start point.

But that isn't playing on co-trainer Stephen Autridge's mind in the countdown to the four-year-old's final lead-up to the Caulfield Cup in two weeks' time.

“We're not too worried,” he told The Informant.

“In a lot of ways it's better than drawing one or two and having to find a way through them.  It will be in Opie's hands, but I can see him getting across midfield or maybe a bit further back, then making his move when the time comes.”

Opie Bosson was in masterly form in last month's Windsor Park Plate over 1600 metres, easing back in the early rush and then tacking onto his most obvious rival, Kawi, in the run towards the home straight.

Autridge and training partner Jamie Richards are in a strong position going into Saturday's $250,000 race with a solid second string candidate in last-start Pukekohe winner Chance To Dance, who has drawn well at gate six with Leith Innes in the saddle.

“He'll jump and be in a handy position from that draw,” Autridge said. “He showed the other day that he's got a turn of foot and he's been right up to the mark since in his work with the other horse.

“Don't worry, he's in it up to his eyeballs.”

That comment about the Irish-bred son of Teofilo would resonate with TAB bookies, who this morning took a single bet of $4,000 at $8.50. They reacted by trimming Chance To Dance to $7 behind Gingernuts at $1.95 and Volkstok'n'barrell at $6.

Gingernuts has remained stable at his Final Field opening quote, but that doesn't mean there's any shortage of support.

“He hasn't budged,” head bookie Thad Taylor said. “Maybe the wide gate and the better track might make a difference, but there's still plenty of money out there for him and at the moment it's a situation we're managing.

“It was madness the way they came for him before the Windsor Park, so we'll just have to wait and see how that pans out.”

The Hastings track was rated Dead4 this morning after 10mm of irrigation overnight Tuesday and continuing fine weather.