Darryl Sherer
The powerful Te Akau operation have turned to one of their own to guide the fortunes of Gingernuts, who has drawn gate 12 in a 15-horse field in Saturday’s Gr.1 Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Michael Dee has been booked to partner the star performer after Hugh Bowman lost an appeal on Wednesday afternoon against a careless riding charge.
Bowman had been booked for Gingernuts, but he was suspended for 11 meetings on Melbourne Cup day for his ride on the third-placed Hybrid in the Listed Lexus Plate (1400m).
“Former Te Akau apprentice Mick Dee will now do the riding on Saturday,” Te Akau principal David Ellis said.
A son of former trainer Richard, Dee started out as a probationary apprentice with Hastings trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen.
He then transferred to Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers and spent a period with Te Akau before completing his apprenticeship with Caulfield trainer Mick Price.
Dee has been in good recent form and rode his first Group One winner aboard Foundry in The Metropolitan (2400m). He doubled his tally at Flemington last Saturday when successful aboard the Chris Waller-trained Shillelagh in the Gr.1 Kennedy Mile (1600m).
The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Gingernuts won the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings two runs back and on his return to Hawke’s Bay he then finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m). – NZ Racing Desk.