X-ceptional Xtravagant

“What a magnificent individual, you'd be hard pressed to find a better looking colt,” said a race fan as Xtravagant (3 c Pentire - Axiom, by Zabeel) came back to scale after his showy win in the $70,000 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Already a massive winner of both the $200,000 NRM Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) on the same course and $400,000 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Riccarton, Xtravagant was a short odds favourite but the thrill of taking out the Group Three was celebrated by the owners with equal vigour.

Recording his sixth win from ten starts for the Te Akau 2014 Te Akau Breeding Syndicate, Xtravagant pushed his earnings close to half a million after being purchased by David Ellis as a yearling for $375,000 at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud.

Away smartly before handing up to trail at the 900m, Xtravagant received a lovely track along in third under Matt Cameron, quickened to lead at the 400m and effectively had the race in safekeeping thereafter to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

The 1200 metres was covered in a slick 1:08.6 (almost a track record: 1:08.5), last 600m in 34.3.

Breeder and joint owner of Rich Hill Stud, Alan Galbraith QC has kept a close on the career of the stunner and reflected on the journey to date:

“He was a lovely foal and a lovely yearling. He had a personality and I remember Renee Connolly (who reared him at Rich Hill) saying ‘he lived life in his own little bubble'. So, he had character. He's Remarkable was a nice horse too, but Xtravagant was a step up. A bit bigger, bit stronger and not quite so difficult to handle. Xtravagant was no problem as a yearling, he just had a personality.

“His grand-dam, Arletty, was a good mare. She won Group Two races in Australia, and probably a wee bit unlucky finishing sixth in the Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m). Had she stuck to the rails she certainly would have run in the money, but came off the rail and finished only a length and a half from the winner. She was a decent race mare, no doubt about that.

“We've got an All Too Hard yearling filly out of Axiom in Australia, which I'm keeping, half-sister to Xtravagant and a Redoute's Choice weanling colt and she's in foal to Exceed and Excel.

“Unfortunately the full sister to Xtravagant, Adage, died when in foal to Makfi, which was a shame.

“I think the Pentire aspect in both He's Remarkable and Xtravagant have given them the rich colour and quality.

“I've bred a lot of horses over the years, but you don't see horses do what he did at Riccarton [2000 Guineas], and Te Rapa [NRM Sprint], they just don't do that. So, when you've had a lot of horses, you feel a wee bit lucky and he is exceptional, isn't he? It's like seeing someone in any sport that is a bit extraordinary and it's great to see.

“I bred the dam (Axiom) and raced Arletty in partnership, so I've been connected with the family all the way through. Arletty was trained by Dave O'Sullivan, and Dave was a good mate of mine and I saw Arletty win a couple of her races in Aussie.

“She was a little bit disappointing, herself, as a broodmare, Arletty. Maythehorsebemagic (Zabeel) was her only stakes winner, but her daughters have left four stakes winners already: He's Remarkable, Xtravagant, Koala Bear, and Exclusive Lass. It is a good family.

“Arletty was a nice mare, still is and throws quality foals.

“The dam, Axiom, lost an eye when she was being broken in. She ran into a gate, lost the sight in one eye and never raced.

“He's a bit special, but it makes you all the more nervous I think. And when you get a horse that looks as special as him, it's a little bit more...... not worrying but you don't want to see something go wrong, put it that way. Whereas with an average horse, you win some, you lose some, a bit like me doing law I win some cases and lose some cases. But if you get something that looks special you like them keep proving it. So, it's always a bit nerve wracking.

“Stephen (Autridge) is doing a really good job. He's very low key. He doesn't go around big noting. He's a good bloke and his whole family is steeped in racing, so it's nice to see someone like that having the success.

“And Cameron Lammas did a lot with him earlier on, and he's a hell of a nice guy.

“I think your video releases are absolutely incredible, and the farm sent me a video before he went down to Wellington. I know that wasn't successful, but seeing him being prepared to get on the float. Just watching him walk with that swing that he has behind, shows that he really does have an exceptional style. With that tail, he really swings it and he's a very athletic horse, there's no doubt about that.

We're very lucky to have a horse like him.

It would be a dream, if we (Rich Hill Stud), could pull that one off (getting him to stand at stud). Obviously it will depend on dollars and what people want to do. If he keeps winning, he's worth more.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

Back