Gingernuts (NZ) Slam Dunks Group 1 Gold in Sydney

Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj), who cost just $5,000 and $42,500 in his two visits to the Karaka sales centre, continued his remarkable rise to stardom with Group 1 victory in his Australian debut in Saturday’s A$600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

The chestnut burst out of obscurity with a last-to-first win at big odds in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie on February 18, which he followed with an outstanding win in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the same venue two weeks later. Both victories sparked wild celebrations in the stands among the dozens of members of the Te Akau Gingernuts Syndicate that owns the gelding.

On Saturday it was Australia’s turn. Rider Opie Bosson said Gingernuts struggled in the testing heavy track conditions, but the outstanding three-year-old still had the quality and the courage to draw away from a strong field down the Rosehill straight. He crossed the line two and a quarter lengths clear of the runner-up, the last-start Group 1 Randwick Guineas winner Inference (So You Think).

“This is huge,” said Jamie Richards, who trains Gingernuts in partnership with Stephen Autridge. “It was a great effort.

“I am really pleased for the team at home. We bought the horse at the Ready To Run Sales and we syndicated him amongst some clients of ours and they are having a whirlwind ride. It’s great for the industry when horses like this step up.”

Gingernuts will now carry on to the A$2 million Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 1.

“It looks like he’s going to be hard to beat in two weeks’ time,” Richards said.

Gingernuts has now had eight starts for five wins. Saturday’s win earned him another A$348,000 to go with his New Zealand prize-money of $671,250.

Gingernuts was bred by Goodwood Stud, who sold him as a weanling in 2014 for $5,000. He returned at the Ready to Run Sale the following year in the draft of Stainley Park where Te Akau Racing purchased him for $42,500.

Gingernuts was one of two Te Akau purchases at the 2015 Ready to Run Sale. The other was Hall Of Fame (NZ) (Savabeel), who was bought for $230,000 and also went on to become a Group 1 winner. He took out the $200,000 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham in January.

Gingernuts is one of three winners out of the Generous mare Double Elle (NZ), the others being Rideitlikeustoleit (NZ) (Alamosa) and Runway (NZ) (Pins).