Gingernuts top of the class at awards
New Zealand Derby winner Gingernuts was the headline act when the local racing fraternity gathered to honour the stars of the just completed racing season at the Matamata Racing Club annual awards function on Monday night.
As well as the Ellerslie classic, Gingernuts also won the Avondale Guineas and in his first start at the Sydney autumn carnival added the Gr. 1 Rosehill Guineas.
The chestnut gelding was the centre of attention last Tuesday morning when the TV One Breakfast crew visited the Matamata track as part of the pre-Melbourne Cup publicity tour.
Gingernuts’ 2016-17 achievements led to a raft of awards on Monday night: Champion Three-year-old, Champion Owner for the bunch of enthusiastic owners who race him under the Te Akau Gingernuts Syndicate banner, and the supreme title of Matamata Horse of the Year.
As well, Gingernuts’ trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards claimed their second consecutive Trainer of the Year award.
Nor did the Te Akau Racing haul end there, with the Champion Two-year-old award going to Melody Belle, who won the Gr. 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and Karaka Million on the local scene and added the Gr. 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at the Queensland winter carnival.
The Lance O’Sullivan/Andrew Scott-trained former Hong Kong galloper Willie Cazals claimed the Champion Stayer trophy, while Bev and Ken Kelso’s Perfect Fit