Te Akau's Guineas' Plans take Shape

The NZ Racing Desk reports:

The powerful Te Akau operation have all but confirmed their Group One runners for Riccarton.

Trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards will have at least two colts in the Gr. 1 Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas, while they have trimmed their Gr. 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas representation to three.

Scrutinize and Xtravagant (pictured) are definite contenders for the November 7 feature, and last-start maiden winner Bishop Rock remains in the mix.

“Xtravagant had a nice win at Trentham to build his confidence and he arrived at Riccarton this (Tuesday) morning,” Richards said. “Dan Miller, who travelled with him, was very happy.”

The current $4 favourite, Xtravagant was a runaway winner of the Guineas Trial on Saturday while Scrutinize finished seventh in the Gr. 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial on Monday.

“The Sarten was a tough race and we were pleased with him,” Richards said. “He's a colt who is going to relish 1600 metres on a big, roomy track.”

Stable jockey Matt Cameron will now face a tough choice to settle on his Guineas ride.

“Xtravagant was phenomenal at Trentham and I should probably have stuck to the fence on Scrutinize,” he said. “I couldn't do a lot on him in the last 150 metres, he didn't have much room, and he's looking for a mile.

“I'll have a think about it and make a decision - it happens every year with the Te Akau horses but I'm not complaining.”

Cameron will also have the pick of the in-form trio of Risque, Special Memories and Princess Davone for the 1000 Guineas on November 14.

“Matt is the stable rider and certain horses suit certain jockeys so we'll have a round table in the next couple of days and look through our riding options for the other two,” Richards said.

Risque won the Listed Armadillo Stakes last time out while Special Memories finished third after previously beating her stablemate in the Guineas Trial at Riccarton.

Princess Davone was third in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes and runner-up in the John Grigg Stakes.

“They are all going well and it's a big advantage to have them down there early,” Richards said.