Gingernuts retired
G1 New Zealand Derby winner Gingernuts (NZ) (Ifraaj {GB}) has been retired 10 months after he suffered a life-threatening injury ahead of the G1 Emirates McKinnon S at Flemington.
After a long recovery at the Werribee Equine Clinic in Melbourne, the 4-year-old chestnut returned to New Zealand in February and was nursed back into health at his home at Te Akau Stud.
But it has been determined that his racing career, which also included wins in the G1 Rosehill Guineas and the G1 Windsor Park Plate, is over.
“Gingernuts is undoubtedly the most popular horse we have had at Te Akau,” stud principal David Ellis said.
“He captured hearts and imaginations and has a huge following. We were stunned by the outpouring of care and concern when he suffered his life-threatening injury in Melbourne."
“The bottom line is that the veterinary surgeons advise against racing 'Jerry' again."
“They state that there is a strong possibility that the damage to his injured leg is such, that he would likely favour the injured leg and that is a risk that we are absolutely not prepared to take."
"We would never compromise his health and well-being being. His owners are also adamant that their boy comes first, so he will now spend the rest of his days as promised at Te Akau Stud."
Ef Troop one over English in trial
English (Encosta De Lago {Aus}) took the next step in her preparations towards The TAB Everest when finishing second a trial at Rosehill on Monday.
Having her final trial before she resumes in the G2 The Shorts on September 15, English, ridden by Tim Clark, made steady ground to finish 3.4L from impressive trial winner Ef Troop (Spirit of Boom {Aus}).
Ef Troop is now headed towards either the Listed Heritage S at Randwick on Sept 15 or to the G2 Danehill S. on the same day at Flemington.
Earlier, multiple Group 1 winning mare Global Glamour (Star Witness {Aus}) won the opening trial holding off G1 Sires Produce S. winner El Dorado Dreaming (Ilovethiscity {Aus}).
No More Sundays for now
Regally-bred 3-year-old More Sundays (Fastnet Rock {USA}) has been sent to the paddock for a spell.
The colt out of champion mare More Joyous pulled up shin sore when beaten favourite at Randwick on Saturday and has returned to Lindsay Park in Euroa to recover and is likely to be set for an autumn campaign.
He burst into contention for the G1 Golden Rose when he won impressively on debut at Geelong and then posted an impressive trial win at Rosehill.
He started a short-price favourite in a benchmark race on Saturday but dropped out after racing on the pace. The stable subsequently reported what the issue was and he has been sent to the paddock.
Night's Watch to back up at Valley
One of Darren Weir's six winners at Caulfield on Saturday, Night's Watch (Redwood {GB}), will step up to Group company and contest Saturday's G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam S at Moonee Valley.
Weir has confirmed that he is aiming Night's Watch at the G1 Caulfield Cup next month and his next step will be to weight-for-age.
"The plan is, providing he has a good week, and Jarrod (McLean) will let us know that, if he does he'll be backing up on Saturday for sure," he told RSN.
"He's on a Caulfield Cup program for sure, so we'll just keep going down that road and see how far we get."
"He's made a lot of improvement from last preparation."
Weir has also nominated Japanese galloper Admire Robson (Deep Impact {Jpn}), import Red Cardinal (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Schweppes Oaks winner Soproessa {So You Think {NZ}) for Saturday's race.
Night's Watch, pictured as a yearling
Prebble to resume riding on Saturday
Brett Prebble's return to riding in Australia will take place at Rosehill on Saturday aboard Legend of Condor (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) in the G2 Run To The Rose S.
The long-time Hong Kong jockey has returned to Melbourne to live and rode in a trial at Cranbourne on Monday as preparation for this week's formal return to the saddle.
He will ride trackwork in Sydney this week ahead of his first ride as an Australian-based jockey in nearly 15 years.
’I don’t have any goals,’’ he told racing.com. ‘’I’ve been away for 15 years so it’s hard to come back here and say I’m going to do this and do that."
‘’I am just going to work hard. Head down and bum up and hopefully get some success and get some winners and if so, the horses will follow."
Jon Snow heads to Melbourne
Jon Snow (NZ) (Ifraaj {GB}) is Melbourne-bound after his impressive first-up performance in last Saturday's G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings.
Co-trainer Andrew Forsman confirmed the 5-year-old will head to Flemington for the G1 Makybe Diva S. on September 15 having performed well in his first start for 10 months.
“We are very happy with him,” Forsman said. “We thought he would run well, so to be only beaten by a length or so from some of those sprinters, we’re rapt with him first-up."
“He’ll be on the plane to Melbourne sometime this week on either Wednesday or Sunday and hopefully his next start will be the Makybe Diva Stakes.”
