Gingernuts begins Caulfield Cup campaign in NZ

Caulfield Cup contender Gingernuts will begins his campaign in the Group One Tarzino Trophy at Hastings but connections aren’t expecting too much first-up.

The New Zealand Derby and Rosehill Guineas winner is expected to have two starts at home before travelling to Australia.

“The 1400 metres will be too short for him on Saturday,” co-trainer Jamie Richards told NZ Racing Desk.

“He’ll get back and be running on at the finish, but it’s not his race against the likes of Kawi, Perfect Fit and Volpe Veloce.

“He will go back to run in the mile and then, all going well, he could go to Melbourne but that will be decided after the Windsor Park.”

Gingernuts also holds a nomination for the final leg of the Triple Crown series, but he is unlikely to be in the mix for the Livamol Classic on October 7.

“Three trips down to Hastings might be a bit much. History says it is,” Richards, who is in partnership with Stephen Autridge, said.

Gingernuts has had two trials leading into his first start since he finished fifth in the Australian Derby won by fellow kiwi Jon Snow who begins his spring campaign in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

In his most recent trial, Gingernuts went round without his raceday blinkers.

“He’s a pretty laid back sort of horse and when Opie (Bosson) gave him a couple of backhanders he finished on strongly and showed he was going the right way,” Richards said.

Gingernuts galloped at Matamata on Tuesday morning and received a favourable report from Bosson.

“It was very foggy and he couldn’t be timed, but Opie was happy with him,” Richards said.