Leading Caulfield Cup hope Gingernuts is set to start favourite in Saturday's Group I Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings as he looks to join an honour roll that includes champion New Zealanders Jimmy Choux and Mufhasa.
Gingernuts, winner of the Group I NZ Derby (2400m) and Group I Rosehill Guineas (2000m) last season, returned to racing as a four-year-old when finishing an eye-catching fifth in the Group I Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on September 4.
The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained gelding rounded out his preparations for Saturday in a track gallop at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Partnered by regular rider Opie Bosson, Gingernuts worked in company with stablemate Chance To Dance, clocking 39.2 seconds for the final 600m in heavy going.
Gingernuts is likely to remain in his homeland for his next two starts before crossing the Tasman Sea for the $3 million Group I Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21.
The chestnut's final lead-up to Caulfield is set to be the Group I Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings on October 7.
