It is all systems go for gun Kiwi youngster Gingernuts who has improved and strengthened-up during his winter spell ahead of a return to Australia for a shot at the Caulfield Cup 2017.

Co-trainer Stephen Autridge said the team at Te Akau were thrilled with the rising four-year-old’s progression in the paddock.

“He’s put on forty kilos with his spell at Te Akau Stud and since he came back into work in May he’s been bouncing around like a two-year-old,” Autridge, who trains in partnership with Jamie Richards at Matamata, told the New Zealand Racing Desk.

“We’re rapt with the way he’s going and the way he looks – he has certainly improved.”

The Iffraaj gelding has won five of his nine career starts to date including the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) at home, which led to his Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) win in the mud over Inference.

Gingernuts was last seen finishing fifth behind fellow Kiwi Jon Snow, the NZ Derby third placegetter turning the tables to take out Randwick’s Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) on April 1.

Autridge said the crew were keen to get Gingernuts out into open age company in Victoria over the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival where his major target is the $3.15 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a horse improve as much as he did,” Autridge said.

“He was battling away at the easier race meetings, Stratford and Te Teko, but as soon as we stepped him up over ground he found his niche and his confidence grew with it.

“He’s a horse that won the Avondale Guineas, our Derby and the Rosehill Guineas and wasn’t under any stress to win them so we wouldn’t know what we’ve really got next season until we step him up against the best older horses.”

Four-year-olds have won the past two editions of the Caulfield Cup including a win for the Kiwis with the Murray Baker-trained Mongolian Khan in 2015.

“We’re thinking he could run on the last two days of the Hawke’s Bay Carnival and then go for the Caulfield Cup, but at the same time we are at the stage of looking through Melbourne programs and we’ll take into account the path that recent Caulfield Cup winners have taken,” Autridge said of the likely spring campaign for Gingernuts.

Futures Caulfield Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is a wide-open affair with six equal favourites at $17 for the win including Gingernuts.

To back Gingernuts over the spring at the right price and to access the best all-in Caulfield Cup odds for 2017 head to Ladbrokes.com.au.