Gingernuts arrives home in New Zealand

Gingernuts has arrived safely at Te Akau Stud in New Zealand to a hero’s welcome, three months after a freak accident almost claimed his life in Melbourne.

The triple Group One winner broke his pastern on the way to the barriers for the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on November 11.

He underwent surgery at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic at Werribee before being transferred to the King’s Park Equine Clinic for rehabilitation.

Gingernuts had a serious setback in early December with an infection at the site of one of four screws in his leg but after treatment, continued to recover without further problems.

On Thursday, he was flown out of Melbourne and taken to Te Akau in Waikato where he was met by a large media contingent and the stud’s owners David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis.

Last year’s New Zealand Derby winner, Gingernuts also won the Rosehill Guineas in Sydney in the autumn and added the Windsor Park Plate to his Group One record in September.

There is no indication whether he will ever race again but he will have a home for life at Te Akau.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support,” Fenton-Ellis said.

Since his injury, Gingernuts has gathered a large following on social media on both sides of the Tasman as his recovery progressed.

His homecoming was featured on television news bulletins in New Zealand.