Livamol Round Two

Gingernuts nips Close Up | Trish Dunell

The rescheduled G1 Livamol Classic is slated to go off Sunday afternoon at Hastings and many of the original cast of characters return for the 2000-metre contest. Forced to switch to plan b and miss an intended start in the Oct. 21 G1 Caulfield Cup when racing was abandoned at Hastings after the fifth race on Oct. 7, Te Akau Racing's G1 Windsor Park Plate hero Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) takes his place in the Livamol lineup once again. A strong fifth to Windsor Park Plate bridesmaid Close Up (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) in the first leg, the 1400m G1 Tarzino Trophy on Sept. 2, the 2017 G1 New Zealand Derby and G1 Rosehill Guineas hero appears primed for a big effort. Favoured for the second time in the Livamol, he worked under regular pilot Opie Bosson in company with fellow Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards trainee Chance To Dance (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) with Leith Innes aboard, between races at Matamata on Oct. 14. The latter won the Listed Karaka Classic last out.

“Opie was particularly happy with Gingernuts,” Richards told Racing and Sports. “He attacked the line strongly. Chance To Dance is an older stayer and doesn't do too much until race day comes around, but we're certainly pleased with the way both horses are going. They will both be stepping up to 2000m for the first time in this campaign and it was a great opportunity to get a bit more work into them than what they would do in the morning, so we're very pleased and thanks to the club for letting us.”

Added Bosson, “He's flying, I gave him a click at the 200m and he just went woosh.”

2015 G1 Rosehill Guineas hero Volkstok'n'barrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) is looking to get back on track after a pair of fifths in his first two starts this season. The four-time Group 1 winner filled that position in a Sept. 2 1200m race at Ruakaka and in the wake of Gingernuts in the Windsor Park Plate on Sept. 23.

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