Gingernuts wins 2017 Windsor Park Horlicks Plate Group 1 NZ$200,000 at Hastings (NZ), 1600m.

An unlucky, first up fast-finishing fifth in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr 1, 1400m) earned Gingernuts favouritism here and he did not disappoint, holding out a top field for his sixth win (third Group One) in eleven starts. Opie Bosson did not hurry from barrier six and they settled fourth last, creeping a little closer to be back of midfield at the 1200m.

Widest at the 600m, Bosson kept hunting forward and near the last corner they looked menacing, just back and outside the leading group. Into the straight, out wide, they were still three lengths adrift but Bosson got busy and the fouryear-old rallied, drove up to the leaders and had a stride-for-stride battle with Close Up until the 50m then clawed his way clear to win narrowly but well.

Close Up saved ground along the inner turning in, led at the 250m and gave the winner plenty to think about to just short of the wire for a tough second.

Kawi was wide but handy enough turning in, tried to go with the winner but was hampered the last 150m for an honest if slightly unlucky third from Underthemoonlight, who flashed home wide out for fourth.