Rising Star installed Australian Guineas' Favourite
28 December, 2015
www.stuff.co.nz reports:
Watch out Australia! An Xtravagant aim has been levelled at your racing riches.
Glamour colt Xtravagant will have one more run in New Zealand before launching a raid on high profile feature races across the Tasman.
The good looking Pentire colt got his campaign under way in the best possible fashion with a convincing win at Ellerslie on Boxing Day over 1400m.
Star galloper Xtravagant lived up to the hype with a bold, front-running performance to take out the New Zealand Herald 1400 at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
The win and his Group I Riccarton romp in the 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November have captured the imagination of Aussie punters and bookies.
Fresh memories of last season's 3-year-olds Mongolian Khan's and Volkstok'n'barrell's exploits on their soil served a stark reminder of Kiwi talent and Xtravagant is being given huge respect and favouritism in early markets.
Xtravagant and Matthew Cameron return after winning on Boxing Day at Ellerslie. Xtravagant is favourite for the Australian Guineas in March.
CrownBet has marked Xtravagant as the $5 early Australian Guineas (1600m) favourite over Caulfield Guineas winner Press Statement ($7) and Victoria Derby winner Tarzino ($8).
The Group I Guineas at Flemington on March 5 carries a stake of A$750,000.
The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained colt will have his farewell New Zealand run at Trentham on January 16 in the Group I Levin Classic (1600m).
"He will definitely run at Trentham and then go to Australia and run in the Australian Guineas at Flemington," Te Akau Racing's David Ellis said.
"Then he will go up to Sydney for the Rosehill Guineas, the Australian Derby and possibly the Queen Elizabeth."
Handling of the valuable colt by his trainers drew praise from Ellis.
"It's a fine line between have them ready to win and leaving improvement in them for what lies ahead - I think the boys got it spot on today."
Jockey Matt Cameron said riding him was like being on a rollercoaster.
"He pinged the gates like a bullet and got faster every corner he went around. He got tired towards the end but there's a lot of improvement in him and it was a good first-up run."
Australians should not only be wary of Xtravagant but also of Boxing Day's Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic winner Capella.
The 3-year-old filly may be in Sydney at the same time as her male counterpart chasing glory in the Australian Oaks for owner Gary Harding and trainer Danica Guy.
"We would love to take her to Sydney but we have a few goals at home beforehand we want to achieve," Guy said. "We make be back at Ellerslie for the Royal Stakes on New Year's Day."
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