WINDSOR PARK PLATE (GROUP 1)

THE New Zealand Derby and Rosehill Guineas winner Gingernuts was sent out favourite and duly delivered to his legion of fans and owners in the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate at Hastings, in New Zealand, on Saturday.

Part of David Ellis’ Te Akau operation, Gingernuts was a NZ$42,500 New Zealand Ready-to-Run purchase whose syndicate of owners number 42, a large contingent of which were at Hastings.

“They’re having a ball,” said co-trainer Stephen Autridge. “It’s wonderful to see. The days of one person owning a racehorse are behind us.”

A field of 14 faced the starter over Hastings’ 1,600 metres with Opie Bosson electing to settle midfield on Gingernuts before working into the race approaching the bend.

A line of five attacked the lead into the straight with Gingernuts the widest in the slow conditions.

Challenged by Close Up and Kawi, the Iffraaj gelding was tested right to the line getting home by a short-neck ahead of the Shinko King gelding Close Up and the Savabeel gelding Kawi.

“It was good to see him get into a real fight because he hasn’t had too many of those,” said Autridge. “He needed that because if he gets into a real fight in a bigger race, he now knows what to do.”

Gingernuts will stay in New Zealand for the Livamol Classic before heading to Melbourne for the BMW Caulfield Cup on October 21st.