RACING FORUM

Posted: **Mon Mar 06, 2017 3:39 am**

At Ellerslie in NZ, Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj (Zafonic-Pastorale, by Nureyev) celebrated a Gr1 success when 3YO chestnut gelding Gingernuts (Iffraaj-Double Elle, by Generous) scored by 1.25-lengths for Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards in the NZ$1 million New Zealand Derby (2400m) for 3YOs, over fellow gelding Rising Red (Redwood-Diva In Red, by High Yield) and the colt Jon Snow (Iffraaj-Orinda, by O'Reilly). Given a peach of a ride by Oppie Bosson, Gingernuts made it a hat-trick in taking his record to 4 wins (also including last start's Gr2 Avondale Guineas) and a runner-up from 7 starts for NZ$671,225 earnings. After initially being sold as a weanling for NZ$5,000 at the 2014 NZB National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Sale, Te Akau purchased Gingernuts for NZ$42,500 as a 2YO at the 2015 NZB Horses In Training Sale. "What a huge thrill," Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis said. "We bought two horses at that Ready to Run Sale, and they were Gingernuts and Hall of Fame. What they've gone on to do is amazing." Ellis added: "Gingernuts has always been an outstanding-looking horse, and Stephen and Jamie and all the staff have done a great job to get him here and win the Derby."