After having his lead-up plans thrown into disarray with the abandonment of last Saturday’s Livamol Classic, Kiwi stayer Gingernuts could come up against Winx in the 2017 Cox Plate.
A Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2017 clash with Winx is being considered for Kiwi stayer Gingernuts (pictured winning the Rosehill Guineas). Photo: Steve Hart.
This spring Matamata-based trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards had been targeting the Group 1 $3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) Saturday week with their gun Iffraaj gelding Gingernuts.
The four-year-old, winner of the autumn’s Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) and Sydney’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), atoned for fifths in the ATC Derby and first-up at home in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) second-up at Hastings on September 23.
Returning to winning form in the second leg of the Hawkes’ Bay Triple Crown, Gingernuts was dominant coming from last-to-first to win the Group 1 Windsor Park Horlicks Plate (1600m).
He was red hot favourite to post a fourth career Group 1 last weekend returning for the third leg of the series, but the Hastings meeting was a washout and abandoned due to the inclement weather.
The setback saw Caulfield Cup 2017 plans for Gingernuts shelved and now the team are looking at running him down under on October 28 instead for a place behind Winx in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
Also on the spring agenda for the galloper could be a Melbourne Cup Carnival run in the Group 1 $2 million Emirates Stakes (2000m) on November 11.
No firm decision had been made as yet however according to Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, who spoke to the New Zealand Racing Desk, with the rescheduled Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) also still being considered for Gingernuts.
“We can control a lot of things, but not the weather and when we left Hastings this morning it was bucketing down,” Ellis said on Monday.
“We need to now decide whether the Livamol is the best way forward for Gingernuts to the Emirates Stakes, which is now worth $2 million, on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“I will need to discuss it with the owners and then we will make our decision.”
Pre-field Ladbrokes Cox Plate betting already has Chris Waller’s dual defending champion Winx at $1.20 after her brilliant Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) win by over six lengths at Flemington last Saturday.
Gingernuts meanwhile is listed as a $26 shot in the all-in Cox Plate odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2017 third acceptances are taken by Racing Victoria at midday (AEDT) today, making now the time to back Winx for the win before her price firms further!