Dude to dodge Plate and put Classic on the menu

Even a tenacious first-up win is unlikely to sway Cambridge owner-trainer Graeme Boyd to send Ginga Dude to the Gr I Windsor Park Plate at Hastings in two weeks' time.

Boyd, who races Istidaad seven-year-old Ginga Dude in partnership with his partner Raewyn Yovich, has a programme taking in the Listed $45,000 Karaka Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe on September 18 before returning to Hastings in an attempt to go one better than the chestnut gelding's second placing in last year's Kelt Capital Stakes, a race this year to known as the Spring Classic.

Ridden by talented Matamata-based Hong Kong apprentice Alvin Ng, Ginga Dude repeated his first-up win in the same race last year when he ran out a narrow winner of the $40,000 JRA Trophy (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

It was last year's Gr II Avondale Cup winner's 11th win from 31 and followed effortless trials wins at Te Teko and Te Awamutu last month.

''We could put in a late entry [for the Windsor Park Plate] but that would mean two trips to Hastings and I'm not really that keen on doing that,'' Boyd said.

''He's still got his winter coat and he's still a bit pretty. He's going to be a far better horse for the run. I'm sure it hasn't, but I hope that hasn't taken too much out of him. ''He's done a lot of work this time in and I was pleased with the way he finished on. It's great to see him come back and stretch out like that.''

Saturday's open handicap was Ginga Dude's first race since pulling a muscle in his hindquarters in the Gr I Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Boyd, a noted equine chiropractor, said: ''You never know how they are going to come back after fibrosis issues - whether they will get that elasticity back.''

Ginga Dude was third to Occidentalis and Nom Du Jeu in the Karaka Classic last year before finishing second to Vosne Romanee in the Kelt Capital Stakes.

He had to dig deep on Saturday to hold off a game Sand Hawk by a half-head with three-quarters of a length back to Time Keeper, who fought on gamely first-up on the heavy track after setting the pace.

Auckland trainer Bob Vance said Sand Hawk was likely to also tackle the Karaka Classic in preparation for a tilt at the Counties and Avondale Cups.

Te Aroha trainer Graeme Nicholson said Time Keeper would go to the $200,000 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) on September 18.

He also reported multiple Gr I winner Sir Slick was back in racing trim and would be entered for Saturday's Gr III $70,000 Merial Metric Mile at Awapuni with track conditions to determine whether or not he starts.

- © Fairfax NZ News