Rosehill Guineas winner Gingernuts will not run in the Caulfield Cup with his schedule interrupted when a vital lead-up race in New Zealand was cancelled.
He was to run in Saturday’s Group One Livamol Classic at Hastings but the meeting was called off after five races amid safety concerns on the slippery surface after a downpour.
Originally scheduled to fly to Australia on Wednesday, Gingernuts will now be be held back and aimed at the Group One Emirates Stakes on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis was philosophical about the change in plans.
“You can’t control the weather and it is just very very unfortunate what has happened with the track on the weekend,” Ellis told NZ Racing Desk.
“By missing a run on Saturday, it means he won’t be ready for the Caulfield Cup or the Melbourne Cup after that so we have had to shift to Plan B.
“We are going to wait and see what decision is taken with rescheduling the Livamol and if it fits in he will remain here to contest the race before heading over to Melbourne to run in the Emirates Stakes.
“If for some reason they can’t reschedule the Livamol or it isn’t on a date that suits he will go to Melbourne a little earlier and have a lead-up run to the Emirates over there.”
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is in discussions with the Hawkes Bay club to try to reschedule the race.
Gingernuts was $13 in Caulfield Cup odds and $34 in Melbourne Cup odds.
