Three weeks ago, the name Gingernuts was scrawled anywhere racing tragics could scribble it after he put in a phenomenal eye-catching performance to run fifth in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings.
We are not accustomed to thinking of Gingernuts as a black-booker. Usually the flashy chestnut is the headline-grabber, an equine cult hero, and he could prove just that at Hastings tomorrow in the group 1 weight-for-age Windsor Park Plate (1600m).
A win would put the Te Akau galloper on track for his big targets, the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. While co-trainer Jamie Richards admits tomorrow’s race is stepping stone towards his Aussie goals, racegoers should see an even better Gingernuts than the one who caught the eye in his last-start performance.
"This is not his grand final — there is a fair way to go — but he has done very well since the Tarzino."
Kawi did not hit the finishing line with as much vigour on the heavy Hastings track in the Tarzino Trophy, but he looms as the main danger for Gingernuts on what is expected to be a more suitable dead track for the Allan Sharrock-trained galloper.
Volpe Veloce was desperately unlucky in running sixth behind Kawi and Gingernuts. Like her counterpart, she too, was flattened on the point of the home turn before picking herself up to hit the line well.
The rather blurry New Zealand 1000 Guineas picture should get a little clearer after 3yr-old fillies face off in the group 3 Gold Trail Stakes earlier on the Hastings programme. Belle du Nord, Florence Jean and Astor are all at the top of the 1000 Guineas market and are the top three bookies’ fancies for tomorrow’s race. One of Gingernuts’ potential Caulfield Cup rivals will book their place in the race with a win in the group 3 Naturalism Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield tomorrow. And at Rosehill, glamour colts Menari, Pariah and Merchant Navy will clash in the A$1million Golden Rose over 1400m.
— Jonny Turner, additional information NZME
