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Dubai trip in the balance for Gingerbread Man
10 Feb 2012 | By Craig Brennan Four-year-old entire Gingerbread Man will be on trial for a trip to Dubai when he lines-up in the $150,000 Woodlands Classic Stakes over 2000m on Sunday.
Gingerbread Man, picture Singapore Turf Club.
Trainer Bruce Marsh said Sunday’s race will determine the path Gingerbread Man takes for the remainder of his four-year-old season.
It will be Gingerbread Man’s first try at 2000m on Sunday and Marsh is sure that he has the entire well primed for the trip.
He also has experienced heavyweight rider Opie Bosson to guide the son of Shamardal over the testing trip on the turf track.
Marsh said Gingerbread Man was in good condition for his final test as to whether he makes the trip to Dubai where his aim is the US$5 million Group 1 Dubai Duty Free over 1800m on March 31.
“This is his final test as to whether he goes to Dubai,” said Marsh. “He’s yet to gain an invitation for the Dubai Duty Free.
“There is a race over in Dubai on March 1 that we are looking at running him in and then hopefully he will get an invitation after that.
“We will see how he pulls up and it will give us a bit of time to get over this run.
“We haven’t booked him on any plane yet for Dubai but there are flights going there every week.”
Right from day one Gingerbread Man has been one of Singapore’s brightest stars, firstly winning the Group 3 Magic Millions Juvenile Championship as a two-year-old.
His three-year-old season was even better. It saw him claim the three legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, namely the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint over 1200m, the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m before culminating in the Group 1 Singapore Guineas over 1600m.
After a short break he returned with victory in an Open 1400m Handicap before lining-up at weight-for-age in the Group 2 Committee’s Prize over 1800m, finishing second to another Dubai aspirant in Always Certain.
The start to Gingerbread Man’s four-year-old season has been mixed. It includes a first-up fourth to another rising star Super Easy in the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy over 1400m before a 1200m Open Handicap win on November 27 before another freshen.
He has returned filling placings over 1200m and 1400m on January 1 and January 20 respectively and faces a dramatic rise in distance on Sunday.
The Woodlands Classic Stakes will tell Marsh whether Gingerbread Man has the stamina to be a stayer.
“It won’t be an easy task for him by any means,” said Marsh. “He’s going to the 2000m for the first time but he’s had a pretty thorough grounding for it.
“I’m happy with his condition but the 59kg he has to carry will make it very tough, but he’s got to carry that in Dubai as well.
“This race is certainly the measuring stick as to whether we go to Dubai or not.”
In all Gingerbread Man has been to the races on 17 occasions, registering 10 wins and five minor placings and a shade more than $1.1 million in prizemoney for the Gingerbread Stable.
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