Caulfield Cup doubt for NZ star Gingernuts

Gingernuts is now in doubt for the Caulfield Cup after rain at Hastings caused the Livamol Classic race day to be called off midway through the program.

The biggest meeting on New Zealand’s spring racing calendar was abandoned after five races on Saturday when the track was drenched after starting the day in the good range.

Hawkes Bay Racing Incorporated and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing will now hold discussions about the immediate future for the remaining five races including the Group One Livamol Classic for which the Rosehill Guineas winner was favourite.

If the meeting cannot be run in the next couple of days, Gingernuts could contest the Cox Plate on October 28, a week after the Caulfield Cup.

The Emirates Stakes at the Melbourne Cup carnival is also an option.

Safety concerns were raised after the Hawkes Bay Guineas when runner-up Bostonian slipped when he was pulling up.

Chief steward John Oatham outlined the reasons for the abandonment.

“The film footage clearly showed that Mark Du Plessis’ mount (Bostonian) slipped quite badly when pulling up so the riders had concern about that part of the track,” Oatham told NZ Racing Desk.

“The track had been ground-hogged at the start of the day after some light rain this morning, however as the day progressed the horses cut into the surface and were down to a firmer part of the track again.

“We re-inspected it again with the riders but it was clear there was a not a lot of confidence that they could ride competitively into that bend.”