Pleasant Surprise for Connections

The NZ Racing Desk reports:

Dual Group One winner Xtravagant gave his trainers a pleasant surprise at the Te Aroha trials on Tuesday.

The Pentire four-year-old, who is being set for a first-up tilt at the Gr. 1 J. R. & N. Berkett Telegraph at Trentham on January 21, won his 1000 -metre trial easily in the hands of Matt Cameron.

In his first public appearance since returning from an unsuccessful Melbourne spring campaign, he tracked the leader before running home best and scoring by a length from Enough.

“We didn't think he'd be winning it because we haven't done a lot with him,” said Stephen Autridge, who prepares Xtravagant with Jamie Richards.

“We're really happy. He's only half-fit and it was a right-handed trial. He'll have another trial left-handed and then go to Wellington.  He was here for education. We've just got to put Australia behind us and forget about it because he's shown us he's coming along as well as ever today.”