Gingernuts best since Bonecrusher?
Are Australasian racegoers about to witness another Bonecrusher when Kiwi three-year-old Gingernuts shoots for his biggest success in the Australian Derby at Royal Randwick this weekend?
That is the multimillion-dollar question, with Gingernuts chasing the major portion of the A$2 million-plus in prizemoney up for grabs in the coveted classic, the race Bonecrusher won in 1986 for owner Peter Mitchell and trainer Frank Ritchie.
Gingernuts was a $NZ5000 ($4620) purchase from the 2014 Karaka Weanling Sales and then resold as a two-year-old at the Karaka Ready To Run Sales for $NZ42,500.
New Zealand’s biggest thoroughbred buyer David Ellis signed for the gelding and syndicated him under his Te Akau banner.
Similarly, Bonecrusher was somewhat shunned in the sale ring, with Mitchell paying just $3250 for the chestnut sired by PagAsa, a son of Kaoru Star.
He went on to become a household name for Australasian race fans with his 1986 Cox Plate win over fellow Kiwi Our Waverley Star, one of the most memorable equine ‘‘wars’’ of all.
Gingernuts’ debut Australian win in the Rosehill Guineas on March 18 brought to mind similarities to Bonecrusher, and further investigations showed there are similarities.
I asked respected turf photographer Martin King to develop prints of Bonecrusher and Gingernuts and the result was quite interesting, with both horses fully rich chestnuts with no touches of white.
I was still not satisfied and decided to contact Ritchie, still a top trainer in New Zealand, earlier this week to get his thoughts on the two horses.
The conversation was satisfying and Ritchie said he had seen Gingernuts the day he won the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie.
However he revealed the gelding was wearing blinkers which hampered visibility in the saddling enclosure.
‘‘He looked to have a plain head – as did Bonecrusher – and stood about 16.1 hands (which was close to the same height as Bonecrusher),’’ Ritchie said.
‘‘What was so good about Bonecrusher was that he had the most magical shoulder and an enormous stride, and Gingernuts appears to have these characteristics, although I must stress that my vision of the horse wasn’t as good as I would have liked.’’
The trainer, however, revealed I was not the first to ask him if he saw any of Bonecrusher in Gingernuts.
‘‘Brian de Lore is a long-time racing journalist and we had a talk about the similar appearances of the two horses.
‘‘He, too, thought there was a definite resemblance.
‘‘Brian has a very good knowledge of New Zealand and Australian racing and was convinced they had quite a deal in common.’’
Bonecrusher was the first New Zealand galloper to break the $1 million prizemoney barrier.
He was a 10-time Group I winner, and from 44 starts had 18 wins and 17 placings, winning A$1,679,495 on Australian tracks and A$674,225 in New Zealand.
The wonderful galloper was put down at the age of 32 on June 11, 2015, and given a most fitting farewell by Ritchie, Mitchell and their family members.
Gingernuts is by the successful shuttle sire Iffraaj from Double Elle, a mare by renowned staying stallion Generous, and from eight starts he has won five races, scoring in the Group II Avondale Guineas and Group I NZ Derby before crossing the Tasman earlier this month.
His winning totals are A$671,250 in New Zealand and A$348,000 in his lone Australian start.
The sky’s the limit for the gelding.
Gingernuts’ form was franked at Rosehill last Saturday when Jon Snow won the Group II Tulloch Stakes convincingly after having finished third, beaten two and a half lengths, in the New Zealand Derby.
And the Kiwis definitely have the best recent form in the Australian Derby with wins in three of the past four runnings – It’s A Dundeel in 2013, Mongolian Khan in 2015 and Tavago last year.