Gingernuts all rage in Livamol
Gingernuts is even money favourite to win the Group I Livamol Classic at Hastings on Saturday.
His Matamata trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards couldn’t be happier with their cult hero going into the race.
Race fans love the horse and punters have shown no fear as they pile their bets on to the Caulfield Cup-bound chestnut.
A win in Saturday’s $250,000 feature over 2040m would see his $12 Caulfield Cup odds shorten suddenly.
The G-nuts brigade and his army of supporters will be ready and waiting to reinvest any of the $2 odds they collect from the Livamol.
Just two other runners are under double figure odds with Volkstok’n’barrell ($6) second equal favourite with Gingernuts’ stablemate Chance To Dance.
‘‘Gingernuts has eased slightly from $1.95 to $2,’’ TAB odds-setter Thad Taylor said on Friday. ‘‘We think $2 is a fair quote and there’s plenty of money for him.
‘‘Interestingly we’ve had several four-figure bets for his stablemate Chance To Dance while Volkstok’n’barrell has been steady in the market – he hasn’t budged form his opening price.’’ The Livamol is a race renowned for upset results.
Vosne Romanee ($55.50) in 2009, Ransomed ($30.80) and Costume ($52.40) in 2014 are examples of what can happen in the third leg of the Hawke’s Bay triple crown.
Last year Willie Cazals landed some big collects when causing a $16.10 upset on the tote after opening at much longer odds on the futures.
While Gingernuts appears tough to beat, finding an upset hope in this year’s contest isn’t an easy task.
Class alone offers ATC Oaks winner Sofia Rosa ($21) a better than battler’s chance.
On her day she is right up to the quality of Saturday’s field and her Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has made no bones about this being the race he set her for when she came back into work.
Her last start 10th in the Windsor Park Plate won by Gingernuts was below her best but she didn’t enjoy the best of luck.
‘‘She’s bright enough so I hope she goes well,’’ Marsh said. ‘‘Her wide draw shouldn’t be too much of a disadvantage and she has worked well this week.’’ Sofia Rosa cruised 1000m in 1:09.7 at Cambridge on Thursday completing the final 600m in 40.8 and she also galloped well on Tuesday Between races Sofia Rosa has been served by champion sire Savabeel.
Another Cambridge mare, Mime ($14), looked at peak fitness for the Livamol when completing her preparation at Cambridge on Thursday morning.
Mime travelled alongside stablemate and race rival Saint Emilion over 1000m in 1:05.6, sprinting the final 600m in 37.4.
Mime’s run in the Windsor Park Plate was an eye-catcher and improved track conditions and extra distance will suit her.
On Friday the track was rated Dead 4 on a cloudy day but showers are possible in the race day forecast.
❚ Chances are that Tony Pike is taking the Group II Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner to the races on Saturday.
The Cambridge trainer will head to Hastings with four strong chances in the 1400m feature for three-year-olds, named after the Waikato Stud stallion and fourtime Group I winner who was unbeaten in six starts for Pike.
Sacred Falls won the Hawke’s Bay Guineas in 2012 and two starts later won the Group I 2000 Guineas at Riccarton before heading to Sydney to continue his career with Chris Waller.
Whether he has another Sacred Falls among his Guineas team on Saturday is yet to be seen, but between Haussman, Aim Smart, Bostonian and Felton Road, Pike believes he is producing his strongest assault on a feature race yet.
‘‘We’ve gone into good races with one or two really strong chances before but never with this many,’’ Pike said.
‘‘The market suggests we’ve got a big hand to play but it’s never that simple. The bookmakers have our team as the first four favourites, let’s hope they’ve got it right.
‘‘We’ve got good depth in our three-year-olds, though we’re lucky they were all winners last season as two-year-olds because I’d say there are a few promising ones coming through that just haven’t had the racing yet.’’
TAB bookmakers have installed Aim Smart as the $3 favourite ahead of Haussman and Felton Road at $5, with the unbeaten Bostonian at $7.
Aim Smart and Felton Road finished second and third behind the smart filly Prom Queen at Ruakaka last start.
‘‘It was hard to make up ground that day at Ruakaka. Felton Road settled back and it was always going to be hard for him with the leader’s bias,’’ Pike said.
‘‘Aim Smart was in the same boat but they were both doing their best work late. It was a really encouraging return from Aim Smart and he’ll strip a fit horse for Saturday. Vinnie [Colgan,jockey] will be positive out of the gates and he should be really competitive.
‘‘The step up to 1400m is ideal for Felton Road. His wide gate is a disadvantage but his racing pattern is to get back and with an even tempo, he’ll be a good chance in the race.’’
A genuine tempo in the Guineas is on Pike’s wish list, with Haussman another one likely to be attacking the line late after a brilliant fresh-up win at Hastings a fortnight ago.
‘‘His sectionals that day were very good,’’ Pike said. ‘‘His best form has been on rain-affected tracks but he’s got a nice action to suggest he’ll handle better going.’’