All Eyes On Xtravagant

The Informant's Richard Edmunds writes:

Trentham will be the centre of attention from both sides of the Tasman tomorrow (Saturday) when Xtravagant lines up in the Woodridge Homes Levin Classic as the hottest Group One favourite in recent memory.

The superstar son of Pentire is currently rated a $1.40 chance in tomorrow's $225,000 feature, and anticipation is snowballing ahead of his trip to Melbourne as the favourite for the Australian Guineas on March 5.

It began with his 2000 Guineas tour de force in early November, blowing his rivals away by eight and a half lengths and breaking a race record with his time of 1:33.59. It grew again with his comfortable victory at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and it is now approaching fever pitch as he attempts to extend his winning streak to four.

Co-trainer Stephen Autridge reported to The Informant that Xtravagant was doing everything right in the countdown to tomorrow's assignment.

“We're really happy with him,” said Autridge, who shares the Te Akau Racing training duties with Jamie Richards. “He galloped very well yesterday (Tuesday) on the course proper at Matamata and came through that piece of work perfectly. He ate all of his feed that night.

“He just had a bit of a trot and a canter this (Wednesday) morning and everything seems to be spot on with him. We can't fault him.”

Xtravagant had a point to prove when he lined up at Ellerslie last time, attempting a right-handed track for only the second time in his career after running off the track at Ruakaka in September. There are no such concerns this week, with Xtravagant winning three of his four left-handed starts including a race at Trentham in October.

“He's very happy racing left-handed and he won his only previous start at Trentham,” Autridge said.

Tomorrow's Group One will be Xtravagant's second to last appearance on a New Zealand racetrack before he embarks on his Australian Guineas mission. Whether his final appearance is in another Group One race or in a trial is yet to be decided.

“We'll get this out of the way first and then we'll decide what the best stepping stone towards the Australian Guineas might be,” Autridge said. “If we want him to have a serious hit-out, the NRM Sprint at Te Rapa could be a very good option with its weight-for-age conditions. If we want something a bit softer, it could possibly be a trial.”

Xtravagant will be ridden once again tomorrow by Te Akau's number-one jockey Matt Cameron, who has recorded three wins and a placing from five rides on the colt. The pair will jump from gate two in a field of 12.

The task has been made easier for Xtravagant by the withdrawal of high-class filly Capella. The daughter of Rip Van Winkle was being aimed at the Levin Classic, bidding to provide trainer Danica Guy a second consecutive win in the Group One feature after claiming it last year with the longshot Gaultier. But Capella's campaign has been held up by a slight hiccup.

“She just had a minor virus,” Guy explained. “It looks like she's come through it alright, but her blood is still just a little bit off. She's a lot better, but we just thought it wasn't worth the risk of the big float trip down to Wellington and running her this Saturday.

“Instead we'll aim her at the Desert Gold Stakes, which is another two weeks away. It's a bit of a shame, but it's best to play it safe.”

In Capella's absence, the hardest for Xtravagant to beat might be Rangipo. The Australian-bred son of Stryker has won three of his last four starts, including a superb performance to claim the Gr. 2 Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. New Zealand Derby candidates such as Get That Jive, Sultan of Swing, Henree Winkler, Gravano and Scrutinize were left in Rangipo's wake as he powered to victory by a length and a quarter, causing a minor upset at odds of 10 to one.

“I'm really pleased with him,” the gelding's trainer Tony Pike said. “He was very good in the Guineas the other day and he's trained on exceptionally well. He's kept improving and he's ready to run another good race.”

Dukedom finished 1.6 lengths behind Rangipo in third place in the Guineas and will line up for a rematch tomorrow.

“It will be my first runner at Trentham and in a big race, so it's pretty exciting,” rookie trainer Steven Cole told NZ Racing Desk. “We've always had a good opinion of him. He's been going great guns at his last two starts so I'm pretty happy where he's at. He'll have 10 days off after Trentham and then we'll set him for the Avondale Guineas and the Derby.”

The Bachelor Duke gelding has had five starts for only a maiden win, but he has never finished further back than fourth.

Shadows Cast has an even better record, never finishing further back than third in his five appearances. He ran second to Tavago in the Gr. 3 Wellington Stakes two starts back and was third in a three-way photo finish at Awapuni last Saturday.

Ronchi ran third behind Xtravagant on Boxing Day, finishing well from midfield to get within 2.1 lengths of the Guineas winner.

South Island visitor Son of Maher, part-owned by Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum's Vermair Racing, has done little wrong in his eight-start career. He ran second to Risque in the Listed Armadillo Stakes, finished sixth in the 2000 Guineas and has won his last two.

Fillies Ruud Not Too and Bella Court both bring black-type form into the race, with Ruud Not Too finishing second to Capella in the Gr. 2 Eight Carat Classic last start and Bella Court chasing home Coldplay in the Gr. 3 Eulogy Stakes.