Elliot’s special win soured by five-day ban

Apprentice Ryan Elliot’s breakthrough stakes win at Ellerslie on Saturday came at a price.

Elliot scored his memorable win on Ferrando in the Group III Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m) for his employers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson.

But he was suspended for five days by stewards for careless riding for his effort on Hiflyer in race four after allowing him to shift out near the 250m mark when insufficiently clear of his rivals.

Elliot will start his suspension after riding next Saturday and will resume on March 24 .

Ferrando took his tally to four wins from six starts, while his young rider is closing in on a halfcentury of wins after less than two years in the saddle.

Rogerson indicated a plan for the Fast ‘N’ Famous colt taking in grade 3-year-old races at the Sydney autumn carnival and then possibly features at the Queensland winter carnival.

Masa Tanaka also received a five-day suspension for careless riding in the last race on Saturday.

He permitted his mount Dal Sir Tee to shift inwards near the 1700m crowding Showpin and Sprocket.

Tanaka, the likely to rider of Shared Secrets in the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on March 18, begins his suspension immediately and returns after racing on March 16.

Another Saturday winner Gingernuts could be aimed at the ATC Australian Derby (2400m) or the Queensland Winter Carnival.

The first New Zealand Derby winner for Te Akau Racing and their trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards could be aimed at the Queensland Derby (2400m) if they elect to bypass the ATC Derby.

‘‘He will certainly be going on an Australian mission,’’ Autridge said. ‘‘At this stage we haven’t had time to consider all our options.

‘‘We’ve had a big weekend but we need to get organised as time goes quickly, but we are definitely considering Sydney for Gingernuts.’’

Opie Bosson rode Gingernuts to his Derby victory and was impressed about his first time aboard the son of Iffraaj.

‘‘He still doesn’t know what he’s doing,’’ Bosson said. ‘‘He was gawking around coming up the straight - once the penny drops he’ll be pretty exciting.’’

Team Te Akau will be taking six or seven horses to Brisbane, including Splurge, Heroic Valour, Hall Of Fame and Zambezi Warrior and one or two of their 2-yearold stars.

Meanwhile, Cambridge trainer Tony Pike has not ruled out taking Sacred Elixir to Sydney for the ATC Derby at Randwick next month.

Sacred Elixir finished fifth behind Gingernuts on Saturday after making ground closest to the inside rail at his third start this campaign.

Pike said the gelding’s closing sectionals were encouraging and he was eyeing a trip to Sydney.

Sacred Elixir won the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and the Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) during a Melbourne spring campaign, and finished second to Prized Icon in the Victoria Derby (2500m) last October.

‘‘He possibly got a few further spots back than what would have been ideal,’’ Pike said. ‘‘But he made ground well and got held up a little bit as well.’’

Tavago, trained at the time at Cambridge by Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin, won last autumn’s ATC Derby after running sixth in the NZ Derby.