Gingernuts (NZ) delivered by a length over a determined Rising Red (NZ) in the 2400-metre G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby Saturday. The NZ$4.40 chance gave Te Akau Racing their first Classic score, while third-place Jon Snow (NZ) granted Darley stallion Iffraaj (GB), who shuttles to Haunui Farm in New Zealand, the first and third home in the Ellerslie feature.
“It's a very emotional moment,” Te Akau Racing's David Ellis told the New Zealand Herald. “It was a terrific run and I'm so thrilled for the whole team, for Jamie [Richards] and Steve [Autridge] who've done a fantastic job and Opie [Bosson] who just rode a sensational race. It's a first Derby for Te Akau and just a great occasion.”
Camino Rocoso (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}) showed the way past the wire the first time with NZ$2.80 favourite Savile Row (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) just off his flank as Gingernuts sat in a well-covered seventh. Rising Red assumed command with just over a half-mile left to travel, but Gingernuts appeared poised as the field approached the final bend. Opie Bosson was forced to steer his charge farther out leaving the turn as Savile Row's course ducked out, but ultimately Gingernuts blew past him. Rising Red let down well and briefly matched strides with the advancing Gingernuts close home, but grudgingly gave way. Jon Snow rallied to take third.
“It's a huge buzz, as we didn't know where we were before the Avondale Guineas,” said Jamie Richards who trains with Stephen Autridge. “It's a big thanks to the staff at home who all do a super job as the quality of care these horses get is second to none.”
Added Bosson, who booted home Te Akau's Splurge (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) in the G3 Darley Plate one race prior, “I went to go inside of Savile Row at the 600-metre mark as he was hanging out but he ducked back in. I then committed to go outside, but he ran off again, however I was travelling pretty good at the time and knew I had a lot of horse under me. He [Gingernuts] started laying in down the straight, but he did it easy in the end as he was having a bit of a gaze at the finish.”
Off the mark at second asking in a 1300-metre maiden affair at Hastings last May, Gingernuts didn't return to the races until a fourth-place finish in a handicap at Stratford New Year's Eve. Tenth in a similar affair upped to 1400 metres Jan. 20, the chestnut gelding scored going a mile at Te Teko just 10 days later. He saluted in the G2 Avondale Guineas at odds of 27-1 trying 2100 metres Feb. 18 and was a late Derby nominee.
Pedigree Notes…
The seventh top-shelf winner for his sire, Gingernuts is the fourth foal and third winner of three runners out of the winning Double Elle (NZ). Iffraaj has sired 2014 G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas hero Turn Me Loose (NZ) and the previous best Derby finish by one of his offspring was with the filly Fix (NZ), who was runner-up in the 2013 edition. He has a juvenile full-brother named Griffin (NZ), who has yet to face the starter. This is the extended family of G1 Western Australian Oaks heroine Trappings (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}).
Saturday, Ellerslie, New Zealand
VODAFONE NEW ZEALAND DERBY-G1, NZ$964,000 (US$/£/€), ARC, 3-04, 3yo, Open Set Weight, 2400mT, 2:28.27, gd.
1–&GINGERNUTS, 56.5, g, 3, by Iffraaj (GB)
1st Dam: Double Elle, by Generous (Ire)
2nd Dam: Timberland Lass, by Oregon (USA)
3rd Dam: Windrift, by Sir Tristram (Ire)
(NZ$5,000 Wlg 2014 NZB National Weanling, Broodmare &
Mixed Sale; NZ$42,500 2YO 2015 NZB Ready to Run Sale).
O-Te Akau Gingernuts Syndicate (Mgr: D C Ellis); B-Goodwood
Stud Ltd, Central, NZ; T-S Autridge & J Richards; J-O P Bosson;
NZ$600,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, NZ$671,225. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rising Red, 56.5, g, 3, Redwood (GB)–Diva in Red (Aus), by
High Yield (USA). O/B-Carter Bloodstock Ltd, Auckland, NZ; T-T
Busuttin & N Young; J-M J Dee; NZ$174,000.
3–Jon Snow, 56.5, c, 3, Iffraaj (GB)–Orinda, by O'Reilly.
(NZ$65,000 Ylg 2015 NZB National Yearling Sale). O-Zame
Partnership; B-R W E Moore, Auckland, NZ; T-M Baker & A
Forsman; J-M Cameron; NZ$86,500.
Margins: 1, 1 1/2, 3. Odds: 4.40, 16.50, 29.00.
Also Ran: Beaumarchais, Sacred Elixir, Charles Road (Aus), Camino Rocoso, Excalibur, Mongolian Legend (Aus), Highlad (Aus), Wyndspelle, Savile Row, Leading Role, Mongolian Wolf (Aus), Stephenstihls, Lincoln Blue, Redeem the Dream, Cha Siu Bao (Aus).
Click for the Racing Post chart, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. NZ Racing Video.
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