Te Akau's 100% Strike Rate

The Informant's Dennis Ryan catches up on Te Akau's southern team - every single one of which has won since travelling south ...

Stephen Autridge saw enough in a fleeting weekend visit to Riccarton to tell him that Xtravagant and Bishop Rock are right on target for Saturday's Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

Autridge flew south specially to oversee the team he and Jamie Richards prepare for Te Akau Racing go through their paces a week out from the opening day of the New Zealand Cup carnival.

Under the management of assistant trainer Pam Gerard, the 10-horse Te Akau contingent has put together a 100 per cent strike-rate, with each of them winning since heading south several weeks ago.

Pentire colt Xtravagant is a more recent addition after scoring impressively at Trentham on the way south and now holding $3.50 favouritism for the first Group One classic of the season. Xtravagant's much less experienced tablemate Bishop Rock has a current quote of $16 for the 2000 Guineas on the strength of a smart second-up maiden win at Ashburton.

“The whole team down there are thriving and I liked the way the two colts worked together on Saturday morning,” Autridge said. “Xtravagant has done everything right since Trentham and deserves to be favourite but the other horse worked just as well, he was right up there alongside him.”

The tangerine and blue Te Akau colours have crossed the line in front four times in the 2000 Guineas, beginning with King's Chapel in 2003 and followed by Darci Brahma (2005), Tell A Tale (2008) and Rock'N'Pop in 2011 - the stable has also won the Group 1 1000 Guineas three times with King's Rose, Insouciant and Costa Viva.

Stable rider Matt Cameron has not surprisingly opted for Xtravagant following the withdrawal of Scrutinize, while Michael McNab will ride Fastnet Rock colt Bishop Rock. Scrutinise, who held favouritism after his Hawke's Bay Guineas second a month ago, has been briefly eased with blood tests suggesting all was not perfect.

“His blood picture wasn't flash, so he's having a week or so out in the paddock and he'll be back racing at Christmas to begin a Derby prep,” said Autridge.