Xtravagant on Target for Lewis

A gallop this morning at Flemington has told co-trainer Stephen Autridge that Xtravagant is in the right condition to begin his Melbourne campaign in next Saturday's Group Two Bobbie Lewis Quality up the Flemington straight (1200m).

The work was what Autridge wanted to see from the dual Group One winner following his minor setback earlier in the week.

‘He worked over an easy 1000 metres and both Kerry (Jones, his rider) and I were pleased with his work” Autridge said.

“He will have another gallop on Tuesday morning and that will top him off nicely. He is a very happy horse.”

A spiked temperature on Sunday ruled Xtravagant out of today's Listed Chandler Macleod Stakes over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley, but Autridge said the horse has missed no work and the Bobbie Lewis was, in fact, a race the team had considered earlier as his starting point.

Safely through Saturday's race, Xtravagant will head to Caulfield in a fortnight for the Group One Sir Rupert Clark Handicap over 1400 metres before tackling the Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m) two weeks later at the same venue.

Meanwhile, stablemate Shillelagh will begin her Melbourne campaign on Wednesday, stepping out in a BM84 Fillies & Mares 1200 metres event with champion Australia jockey Damien Oliver engaged to ride.

‘She worked with a partner and they ran 800 metres in a slick time' Autridge said after her work this morning.

“The mare took a few days to settle into her new environment but being here four weeks has helped her and she is spot on for Wednesday”

Once through Wednesday's race, the team plan to work the Savabeel five-year-old through the grades towards black-type racing during the spring.