Te Akau Trans-Tasman Star Power
9 September, 2016
www.stuff.co.nz & NZ Racing Desk report:
Two of the heroes of Te Akau's memorable 2015-16 season are poised to make waves as they return to racing this weekend.
Last season's champion three-year-old Xtravagant​ and champion two-year-old Heroic Valour will attract attention from opposite sides of the Tasman as they attempt to pick up where they left off last autumn.
Unbeaten Group I-winning Fastnet Rock colt Heroic Valour resumes in Saturday's Listed Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka after two encouraging trials at Te Teko and Taupo.
Heroic Valour makes his first start as a three-year-old in the Listed Northland Breeders Stakes on Saturday.
"He's ready to go a big race first-up. We want to keep him unbeaten if possible so he's in the right condition to be winning this one.
Champion three-year-old Xtravagant is set for a delayed start to his Melbourne campaign at Flemington on Saturday.
Heroic Valour has won all three of his starts, culminating in a Group I Diamond Stakes (1200m) win at Ellerslie last March over Northland Breeders' Stakes rival Wyndspelle.
Safely through Saturday's race, he will contest the Group II Sacred Falls Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings on October 1 before using either the Group III James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa on October 24 or the Listed Armadillo Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on October 22 as his lead-up to the Group I 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 5.
Dual Group I winner Xtravagant goes into Saturday's Group II Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington without a race since his brilliant Group III Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (1200m) win at Te Rapa in April.
A winner of six of his 10 starts, including runaway Group I wins in the 2000 Guineas and the NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, Xtravagant has pleased connections since a setback ruled him out of a planned first-up run in last month's Listed Chandler McLeod Stakes at Moonee Valley.
"He had an elevated temperature and left a bit of food, but he's bounced back well. Stephen's over there with him and he's really happy," Richards said.
"He galloped this morning. Damien Oliver came in and worked him and was very happy with him. We're not sure how the straight six at Flemington will suit him first-up, but it might suit him better than Moonee Valley in his first run back.
"You always have to respect the Aussie sprinters. Hopefully he can get some cover and then do his thing. We're really looking forward to it."
Xtravagant is likely to progress toward the Group I Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 24 before tackling the Group I Toorak Handicap (1600m) at the same venue on October 8.
A start in the Group I Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley remains a possibility.
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