Family Ties Makes 2000 Guineas' Win Xtra Special

The Christchurch Press and Stuff website reports:

Te Akau Racing's Karyn Fenton-Ellis congratulates Xtravagant's co-trainer Jamie Richards

It's no surprise Jamie Richards' phone was going flat by Sunday evening.

As you would expect, the phone was ringing off the hook with well wishes the day after he and Stephen Autridge trained their first Group I win together.

Te Akau colt Xtravagant annihilated the 2000 Guineas field by eight-and-a-half lengths in race record time at Riccarton on Saturday.

The premiership leading trainers only took over the Te Akau operation in May, but they were almost destined to win the $400,000 Group I race together.

Autridge won the race as a jockey when he rode Altitude to victory in 1981.

Four years later, Richards' grandparents Garry and Lorraine McDonnell won the race as owners of Random Chance.

Both victories took place before Richards was born.

And when the 26-year-old got his moment of ecstasy in the race, he watched it with his grandparents Garry and Lorraine.

"They were very proud, it was a special moment," Richards said.

Born and raised in the South Island, Richards is the son of former top jockey-turned successful trainer Paul Richards who moved north to Byerley Park from his former Wingatui base less than 12 months ago.

When his family ties were brought up in post race interviews, an understandably emotional Richards broke down in tears.

He had plenty of family and friends at Riccarton on Saturday which made the win special but parents Paul and Leanne could not make it on course.

"They called me last (Saturday) night and they were very proud," Richards said.

Such was the almost unbelievable ease of the Pentire colt's victory, there was a hush of silence when the race was replayed on the big screen as race goers took in the special performance they had witnessed.

Richards felt Xtravagant could have been something special before the race but he did not expect what unfolded.

"I know how hard it is to win a Group I and it might sound funny but it really is a dream come true," Richards said.

"I'm just so grateful to David (Ellis) and the whole Te Akau team for the opportunity, it's been a real pleasure to train alongside Stephen and I'm learning a lot from him."

Xtravagant's blistering win was just inside Turn Me Loose's race record set 12 months earlier.

That could be a form line of note after Turn Me Loose won the Group I Emirates Stakes at Flemington just a couple of hours after Xtravagant's dominant win at Riccarton.

"I do think we could have a very special colt on out hands," Richards said of the $375,000 Karaka Premier purchase by David Ellis.

He said there was a lot of pressure going into the race as Xtravagant was the hype horse so it was a relief to see him deliver the performance that the Te Akau team though he was capable of.

"I was really excited when they turned for home and then to see what he did from there was a very special feeling."

Bred by Rich Hill Stud, the exciting colt looks to have a future with no boundaries but no decisions have been made on his next race day target.

The win was a big moment for leading jockey Matt Cameron who finally put his name on the race after several places and near misses.

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