Gingernuts firms in 2017 Emirates Stakes betting

Multiple Group 1 winning Kiwi galloper Gingernuts has firmed in the betting for the Group 1 $2m Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Gingernuts, above, has firmed in the 2017 Emirates Stakes betting. Photo by Steve Hart.

Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au on Friday morning had Gingernuts marked at $6, firming in from $7.50 when the fields were released on Wednesday.

Matamata trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards who train for the huge Te Akau racing operation, were forced to search for a replacement jockey after leading Group 1 winning jockey Hugh Bowman was ruled out of riding on Saturday because of a careless riding suspension he incurred on Melbourne Cup day.

Former Te Akau apprentice Michael Dee who is now riding successfully in Melbourne, received the call up and will partner Gingernuts who will jump from barrier eleven in the fourteen horse Emirates Stakes field.

“It’s a good pick up,” Dee told AAP.

“I knew my manager was trying to get the ride once Hugh Bowman was suspended.

“I’ve seen pretty much all of his races and I know he’s a good horse and a decent ride in the race.

“We’ll just need a bit of luck from that draw.”

Dee is already celebrating a successful Spring Carnival with two Group 1 wins when he rode Foundry to victory in the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick and then teamed up with Chris Waller to win on Shillelagh in the Group 1 $1m Kennedy Mile (1600m) at Flemington on the first day of the four day Melbourne Cup carnival.

“It’s been a good spring. Almost a breakthrough spring for me,” Dee said.

“If I hadn’t won those Group Ones I would have probably been no chance.

“Now that I have won two Group Ones, they realise that and it probably made it a bit easier (to give me the ride).”

Gingernuts is a proven Group 1 performer with wins in the Group 1 NZ$1m New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie and in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill during the Autumn.

The four year then won second up form a spell in the Group 1 NZ$200,000 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings in New Zealand on September 23 before running second to Wait A Sec in the Group 1 NZ$250,000 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings in New Zealand on October 22.

Go to Ladbrokes.com.au to get all the best odds for the 2017 Emirates Stakes.