First Time Owners Having Derby Crack

First time owners get a crack at the Derby. Can you believe it?

So many racehorse owners say that words cannot describe the feeling when their horse wins and for owners in the Te Akau Gingernuts Syndicate that sensation has been personified by the three-year-old Iffraaj gelding Gingernuts.

Syndicate manager and Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased Gingernuts for $42,500 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs, and with three wins from only six starts he rocketed into calculations for the $1m Vodafone NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) following his stunning $100,000 Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m) victory at Ellerslie – the Derby course.

His dam, Double Elle, won five races up to 1800 metres in Australia, and her sire is none other than the 1991 Epsom Derby winner Generous.

When Ellis mentioned to advertising guru, FCB General Manager, Blair Alexander that ‘he might be a good one for you and your friends’, Alexander took the bull by the horns and got the newcomers involved.

“There are a lot of people excited, a hell of a lot of people excited,” said Alexander, about what lies in waiting on Saturday (March 4).

Reflecting on the Avondale Guineas' win, Alexander said: “I thought it was outstanding. We were all in the stand watching, there must have been about twenty-five people in the horse there, and I’d say half of them were on debut – some of them hadn’t even been to the races before – so when he missed start I was, literally, apologizing to people.

“I was, like, ‘sorry, sorry’, he’s clearly not quite ready for this sort of stage. Let’s just enjoy the race. Every time George (Simon) said in the commentary: ‘and Gingernuts is last’, the whole group just cracked up laughing.

“I was thinking, please catch up to the field and don’t embarrass us and you ‘Jerry’. So even at the 600m when he was under a ride, we were hoping he would beat a couple home but what unfolded down the straight was jaw-dropping.”

As though he had just joined in, Gingernuts, making his run on the inside, sprouted wings at the 200m to win easily at the finish by one and a quarter lengths.

“We couldn’t believe it. There was whistles, screaming, jumping, tears, all sorts,” Alexander said. “It was mind-blowing and they all made a heap on the punt, too. Some had a hundred bucks and that got them five-grand (Gingernuts paid $31.00 & $5.50 fixed odds and $27.30 & $5.30 on the tote). So, I am very popular at work at the moment.

“We’ve since cut a little video of those moments: missing the kick, every time George says he’s last, the final straight, which we’ve shared amongst our owners and all have a good laugh at.”

Not resting on their laurels, and wanting to maximise the opportunity, caps have been made to mark the occasion.

“Caps have been made. You’ll see orange, or ginger, caps, on Saturday, with G Nuts on the front and He’s got the bickies on the back,” Alexander said. “The whole team will be decked out and it’s just a reflection of their excitement.

“We’ve got pre-match drinks tonight (Thursday). We’re getting to together for pre-race hype and excitement, the (Derby) Preview show has been recorded, and we’re calling it a Capping Ceremony – with caps handed out to individuals, over a beer.

“We now have so many people climbing out of trees wanting to be a part of the next horse.”

Trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards who have since registered another stakes' win with Gold Fever (Savabeel) in the $100,000 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) last Saturday at Matamata, could not be happier with Gingernuts going into the Derby.

“I think he’s done nothing but improve, so we’re happy at our end” Autridge said.

“He’s become very confident, his work since has looked better, pretty happy, and he’s not difficult in any way.  He’s always been a proud looking horse, carries himself nicely, and he looks really good.

“He’s won on good, dead, and soft ground, they (Ellerslie) had 22mls of rain there last night and you’d think that with the weather from now on it’s got to be a beautiful track.  He gave them all a head start in the (Avondale) Guineas and went past them all, without being put under a lot of pressure.

“When you come from last to first and run past them like he did over 2100, you wouldn’t imagine that within the next 200 metres you’d hit a brick wall,” said Autridge, with regards Gingernuts getting the 2400-metre Derby distance.

Equal second favourite, currently ($6.80 & $2.50) fixed, Gingernuts has drawn barrier thirteen in a field of eighteen and will be ridden by Opie Bosson.

“I’m not worried about the draw, based on what we saw last start, and he if settled back of midfield, on the outside, so he could have a clear run at them down the straight,” Alexander said.

“And I think he’ll see out the distance fine, as he was doing it pretty easily at the line over 2100 metres – ears pricked. So I’m confident, but you never know with the three-year-olds until the day.

“We’re all excited at this stage, but there could be nerves on the day. But the day is the just the conclusion to the whole thing, and the lead up is just as exciting as getting there and watching him parade etc.

“The pre-race banter and get-togethers, caps, general chat, is part of why these guys got into it (horse ownership) in the first place. So, whatever happens is just the conclusion to a lot of fun.

“Whether he wins, or doesn’t, we’ll be happy.”

Gingernuts displayed professionalism, determination, and galloping ability right from trials stage, finishing second to subsequent Group One winning stable-mate Hall of Fame (Savabeel) before winning as a two-year-old and his three starts as a three-year-old have yielded two wins.

“We’ve always thought he had the ability,” Alexander said. “Matt (Cameron) said that he thought ‘Jerry’ feels amazingly strong when he first rode him in work.

“He’s obviously got a bit of ability to do what he did against all those three-year-olds who’d been fancied in all the big races throughout the season, to date, and he’s come via (a win) Te Teko and put them away.

“I’m bringing friends into it (racing) and having a good time. Lightning has struck twice, we’ve got another horse that’s come out and won a Group Two and everyone’s excited.

“These people are celebrating success and the enjoyment that they’re having fun, and if he can win we’ll party for days.”

Adding weight to his staying prospects, Gingernuts has the terrific staying influence of Round Table (Princequillo) on both sides of his pedigree – Round Table being the sire of Isolt, who was the dam of legendary stallion Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor).

Bolstering the Derby hand for Te Akau, Beaumarchais (Savabeel), who staged a big run widest on the track in the Avondale Guineas, has drawn barrier four, will be ridden by Michael McNab, and appears a much better chance than the current $66.00 & $12.50 on offer.