Gingernuts was a cult hero in New Zealand but his career was sadly cut short by injury

GINGERNUTS is a retired New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in 2013 who had a lightly raced career. As a three-year-old, he won the 142nd running of the NZ Derby, followed up by a win in the Rosehill Guineas in Australia. At age four, he won the Windsor Park Plate and was second in the Livamol Classic but then was injured while warming up for the Emirates Stakes. The injury required surgery that eventually prompted his retirement. In his relatively short career, the powerful galloper would earn cult like status and thrill crowds who saw him run in New Zealand and Australia.

Gingernuts is a chestnut gelding bred by Goodwood Stud in Palmerston North and named after a famous NZ biscuit, coupled with his chestnut colour - it has nothing to do with his nuts, but his name was a major attraction. He was produced by DOUBLE ELLE, a five-time winning daughter of GENEROUS who descends on the female side from N Zealand Oaks winner DEVANTE. Gingernuts was sired by the brillant producer IFFRAAJ, a stakes-winning son of ZAFONIC. He was sold as a weanling for only NZ$5000, then was put through the ring again in the 2015 Ready to Run Sale of two-year-olds. He was bought for NZ$42,500 by Te Akau Racing, a 35-member syndicate consisting of mostly first-time owners. The horse was trained by Steven Autridge and Jamie Richards out of the Te Akau Stables in Matamata.

GINGERNUTS made his debut on 6 May 2016 in a 1200m maiden race at Pukekohe Park, finishing second. He then broke his maiden on 19 May at Hastings over a distance of 1300m. Gingernuts began his three-year-old campaign on a low-keynote, winning one of three starts while competing at rural tracks such as Te Teko. Early in 2017, his trainers added blinkers to his equipment, which helped him focus and changed his attitude entirely. in February 2017 Gingernuts dramatically stepped up in class for the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie, going off at odds of 26-to-one. Gingernuts missed the start by six lengths and still appeared to have no chance with 600m remaining. However, he then found racing room and sailed past to win by a length. The exciting win prompted his connections to make a late nomination payment for the New Zealand Derby.

Gingernuts was the second favourite for the New Zealand Derby in March of 2017. Ridden by Opie Bosson, who had previously won several major races aboard MONGOLIAN KHAN, the chestnut gelding surged out of midfield to score a comfortable victory. The win sparked jubilant scenes among the owners, most wearing matching orange caps. "We didn't know where we were before the Avondale Guineas", said Richards. "There's a lot of excited owners here."

Two weeks after his Derby win, Gingernuts crossed the Tasman to make his Australian debut in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas at a distance of 2000m. In extremely heavy going, he settled in mid-pack, then unleashed his run with 800m remaining and struck the lead shortly after turning into the straight. He tired somewhat in the final 100m but was still over three lengths clear of the runner-up, INFERENCE. He just seemed to love it it the further he went and handled the conditions like a professional. Gingernuts had his ears pricked all the way up the straight and he was gawking and looking around like an excited teenager. He finished his three-year-old campaign with an admirable fifth-place finish in the Australian Derby.

Gingernuts returned to New Zealand and was given some time off, then began his four-year-old campaign in September in the Tarzino Trophy, finishing fifth. He next entered the Windsor Park Plate in September, in which his odds dropped rapidly to $2.90 thanks to his ever-growing fanbase. He raced in mid-pack during the early running then followed KAWI to the lead with about 600m remaining. Gingernuts duelled briefly with the classy Kawi before pulling away, then withstood a late charge from CLOSE UP to win by a neck. Two weeks later though, he was caught at the finish line by WAIT A SEC in the Livamol Spring Classic, losing by a head.

Gingernuts made his second trip to Australia for the Emirates Stakes in November. Unfortunately, he took a bad step during the warm-up and immediately pulled up by jockey Michael Dee, causing shock to racegoers and connections. Time seemed to stand still as everyone waited with bated breath with serious concern for the horse’s welfare. The on-track veterinarian immediately applied bandages, and Gingernuts was transported to the University of Melbourne veterinary clinic at Werribee. ACT scans found a fracture of the long pastern bone on his near foreleg. He underwent surgery on 13 November, during which four compression screws were inserted into the leg. A small fragment of bone was also removed from the fetlock joint.

The initial prognosis was positive according to David Ellis of Te Akau Racing. The fracture came together well but after a full prognosis it was decided to to retire the horse while still healthy. It was unfortunate we never got to see how far the son of Iffraaj could of gone, as the equine cult-hero captured the imagination of the racing public, thanks to his catchy name, his enthusiastic ownership group and his heroics on the track. The Gingernuts Salver (2100m) for three-year-olds is run at Ellerslie every January in his honour.

RACE RECORD - 12: 6-2-0

EARNINGS - A$1,225,000

Avondale Guineas (2017)

New Zealand Derby (2017)

Rosehill Guineas (2017)

Windsor Park Plate (2017)