Accomplished New Zealand galloper Ginga Dude is still a month away from signing off on another successful Australian campaign.
The veteran, who is closing in on $1 million in stakes after a Moonee Valley win and Cranbourne Cup placing during the Melbourne spring carnival, has been nominated for Saturday’s Frank Underwood Cup.
However, trainer Graeme Boyd said he was reluctant to commit the eight-year-old to a Canterbury start with 61kg until he studied the handicap spread for the Listed race.
“I’m going to look at the weights before I make my mind up on a start,” Boyd said.
“With his rating (107) he might have to give too much weight to a few horses who could make it difficult for him.”
Should Boyd decide not to accept with Ginga Dude, he will save the horse for next month’s Villiers Stakes at Warwick Farm.
“I’ll look at giving him a freshen-up before the Villiers before sending him for a short break after that,” Boyd said.
“He’ll be a bit closer to the others in the Villiers weights so it looks a better race for him.”
A change of tactics produced a luckless Eclipse Stakes result at Ginga Dude’s latest run when sixth to Rothera at Sandown.
“He has paid his way once again over here and there’s been a few times when he hasn’t had much luck,” Boyd said.
“In the Eclipse he couldn’t get a run.”
Since his placing in last year’s Group One Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, Ginga Dude has raced exclusively in Australia.
During a career which has netted 13 wins from 48 starts and $917,880 in earnings, Ginga Dude has twice campaigned during the Melbourne spring and he contested Group One weight-for-age races during this year’s Sydney autumn carnival.
Boyd has Queensland’s rich winter pickings on Ginga Dude’s 2012 radar.
“He can have a break after the Villiers and I’ll get him ready for the Brisbane carnival,” Boyd said.
“There are a couple of nice races up there for him.”
The Frank Underwood Cup attracted 19 entries including Legsman, Scouting Wide, Solid Billing, Strike One and Yulalona.
They are regarded as solid off-season stayers who are expected to figure in the Christmas Cup and Summer Cup – the two main long distance races during the holiday racing season in Sydney.
AAP TURF
