Te Akau's Group 1 Colts on Display

Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) and Xtravagant (Pentire) signalled their readiness for upcoming assignments with a smart exhibition gallop between races on 29 December at Ellerslie.

On Good3 footing, Heroic Valour (M. McNab) travelled on the inside of Xtravagant (O. Bosson) and in unison they picked up speed from the 1000m in 60.1, 800m 45.7, and last 600m in 33.2.

It was nicely judged work by each of the riders and their mounts were in full flight going through the line.

Crowned Champion Three-Year-Old last season, dual Group One winner Xtravagant had cruised up to win a recent trial at Te Aroha, having last raced on 25 September in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) at Caulfield, and the four-year-old entire looks right on song for a fresh-up tilt at the $250,000 Telegraph Handicap (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 21 January at Trentham.

“It was just nice work,” said Jamie Richards, who co-trains the horses with Stephen Autridge at Matamata.

“They weren't here to do anything too silly, they went a nice half mile and quickened down and for Xtravagant it was just another day out before the trials (10 January at Cambridge) and then the Telegraph.

“We can't fault him at home, so very happy.”

“He was so relaxed,” reported Bosson, on the performance of Xtravagant.

“He was perfect and did everything spot on.

“I thought he might tug along, but he just cruised outside him (Heroic Valour), cornered well, changed legs - might win another race,” said Bosson, with a chuckle.

The first two-year-old Group One winner worldwide for Fastnet Rock, winning the Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) at Ellerslie, Heroic Valour has won four of his seven starts and freshened since finishing third in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) he is nearing race fitness.

“Heroic Valour will probably come here (Ellerslie) on 14 January in the Rating 85 1400 metres or the Three-Year-Old 1500 metres, and after that go to the ($250,000) Karaka Mile on 29 January at Ellerslie, and he's in really good form as well,” Richards said.

“He went along nice,” said McNab, of three-year-old colt Heroic Valour.

“The last 50m was probably the best part of his work, and everything he's shown at home has been good, the signs are that he has come back really well and even a bit better than he was.”