Gingernuts to undergo scans on injured leg

The future of injured New Zealand gelding Gingernuts will become clearer after he undergoes a CT scan.

The four-year- old fractured a near front pastern as he was cantering to the start of Saturday’s Emirates Stakes at Flemington.

Michael Dee jumped off quickly and veterinary staff were on the scene shortly after.

Gingernuts was taken to the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic in Werribee where the injury was diagnosed as serious bit not life-threatening.

Co-trainer Jamie Richards was feeling a little more upbeat on Sunday morning after watching the drama unfold on television from Christchurch where he had previously saddled Embellish for Te Akau Racing to win the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

“We were like everyone else at that stage in that we didn’t really know what had happened and all we could see was the horse with people milling around him,” Richards told NZ Racing Desk.

“Once they got him to the clinic the picture became a little clearer and as of Sunday it looks a lot brighter for the horse than what was initially thought.

“He has fractured his near side pastern which he will have scanned on Monday to determine what surgery may or may not be required and the full extent of the injury.

“The reports on Sunday have been quite positive and once we get the scan results we will know whether or not he will be able to make it back to the track.

“He will have a long break ahead of him but there is certainly a possibility he could race again.”

Richards said the incident would have been a lot worse had it occurred during the race.

“It’s a bitter blow for his owners and the team at Te Akau but we are very thankful it happened when it did and not during the race,” he said.

“It’s just one of those things that can happen in racing and you do have to take the bad with the good.”