Gingernuts finally has Melbourne run
KIWI star Gingernuts will make his long-awaited, muchheralded Melbourne debut in tomorrow’s Emirates Stakes (2000m).
His trainer Steve Autridge said they had already achieved one of their aims though, as they won’t be taking on Winx.
Gingernuts was initially coming to Melbourne to contest the Caulfield Cup but those plans were discarded when rain forced the postponement of their planned lead-in run, the Livamol Classic at Hastings.
Connections then considered contesting the Cox Plate with Gingernuts but they decided to focus on the Emirates Stakes instead.
The Livamol Classic was rescheduled to Caulfield Cup day and Gingernuts finished an unlucky second.
Before that he won the Group One Horlicks Plate over 1600m, also at Hastings.
“He’s been here for a week and he’s settled in really well. I can’t be happier with him,” Autridge said.
“There’s no Winx, which is a plus, but we were coming anyway but I’m glad she’s not there.”
Last autumn Gingernuts won the New Zealand Derby and also the Rosehill Guineas before he finished fifth in the Australian Derby.
Autridge said the Emirates Stakes would be the toughest test of Gingernuts’ career as it was a strong weight-for-age race.
“We believe he’s up to it though,” he said.
Autridge had to find a new jockey yesterday for Gingernuts as Hugh Bowman was suspended.
They replaced him with the in-form Michael Deer.
Gingernuts opened at $7 and has now firmed into $6 with Cliff’s Edge.
James Cummings is also confident that $18 chance It’s Somewhat will run well.
“Without Winx running he gets the opportunity to really open up,” Cummings said.
Cummings said he was happy with It’s Somewhat’s third in the “fast run” Waterford Crystal Mile.
“He held down third really boldly in that race and there’s good improvement in him. He’s shown he can run a strong 2000m at weight-for-age,” he said.