Matt to Partner Xtravagant

Pending clearance from the concussion he suffered in a race fall on Sunday, Matt Cameron has been confirmed to continue his association with Xtravagant in next month's Australian Guineas.

Cameron has been the champion colt's rider all season and connections have put his synergy and understanding of Xtravagant ahead of engaging an Australian jockey for the March 5 Flemington classic.

“Matt knows the horse like no-one else, what he likes and what he doesn't like, and there's no doubt in our minds that he's the man for the job,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis in confirming Cameron's engagement this morning to www.theinformant.co.nz.

“All he's got to prove to me is he's 100 per cent and over his fall and he's got the ride.”

Cameron was heavily concussed when he was flung from his mount in the opening race at Matamata on Sunday. After being taken to Waikato Hospital for observation he was allowed home and today he will begin the process to be cleared for a return to race riding by the end of the week.

He has rides pencilled in at Riccarton on Friday and will travel to Sydney to take the mount on Hasselhoof in the Parramatta Cup at Rosehill on Saturday.

Xtravagant has thrilled his trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards with the way he has bounced through Saturday's eight-length win in the NRM Sprint.

“Looking at him yesterday you wouldn't know he'd had a run,” Autridge said during trackwork at Matamata this morning. “What we have to do is keep him ticking over, step it up again and send him across during the week beforehand with all the serious work done at home.”

The A$750,000 Australian Guineas may provide an intriguing match-up between Xtravagant and his former stablemate Risque. In the space of a week last November the pair completed a New Zealand 1000 and 2000 Guineas double at Riccarton and Risque scored an impressive win over 1200 metres at Caulfield on Saturday.

The home-bred Darci Brahma filly was sold by The Oaks Stud in December for a reported $1 million to clients of the David Hayes-Tom Dabernig stable. Saturday's Gr. 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes was her first start since and set her up for a tilt at the Australian Guineas.