Gingernuts looks unlikely to run in the Caulfield Cup after his final lead-up run before heading to Australia was abandoned yesterday.
Gingernuts was the hot favourite for the group one Livamol Classic at Hastings ahead of running in the A$3m Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday, October 21.
With the Livamol Classic now cancelled, connections will have to weigh up potentially sending Gingernuts to the Cox Plate and then possibly the Mackinnon Stakes as it seems unlikely the four-year-old will travel to Melbourne in time for the Caulfield Stakes next week.
The Caulfield Cup had been potentially looking like a showdown between two of New Zealand's best horses as Gingernuts was set to race against Underwood Stakes winner Bonneval for the first time, but that now looks unlikely.
Trainer Stephen Autridge, who prepares the Te Akau team in partnership with Jamie Richards, was putting a brave face on the situation last night.