Xtra Special is Back

The Informant reports:

Boom three-year-old Xtravagant was responsible for two of the most dazzling performances of the 2015-16 New Zealand racing season, and he returns to the scene of one of them when he resumes in tomorrow's (Saturday) Gr. 3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders' Stakes at Te Rapa.

The Pentire colt soared to stardom with an eight-length win in the Gr. 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November, and in February he cemented his lofty reputation when he beat older horses by the same margin in Te Rapa's NRM Sprint.

Xtravagant's stocks may have dipped slightly with an unplaced run in the Gr. 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington last month, but his credentials nevertheless tower above those of his rivals in what shapes as a particularly strong renewal of the $70,000 three-year-old sprint. The five-race winner's current rating is 103, which is 27 points higher than his nearest rival.

Co-trainer Stephen Autridge told The Informant that Xtravagant is ready to deliver a bold fresh-up performance tomorrow.

“He seems very well,” said Autridge, who trains the colt in partnership with Jamie Richards.

“His gallop yesterday (Tuesday) couldn't be timed because of fog, but it looked like he galloped really well. He worked with his stablemate Windborne, who's always been a good track worker, and they did very good work together. We couldn't have been happier with how they went.

“It's a good field on Saturday, but we're in no doubt that he's forward enough and ready to go a good race.”

The current flag-bearer for the tangerine colours of Te Akau Racing, Xtravagant may be taken to Brisbane for a campaign centred around the Gr. 1 Stradbroke Handicap on June 11.

“We'll know a bit more about that after Saturday and after we've had a meeting and made a decision on what to do,” Autridge said.

Autridge and Richards will also be represented in tomorrow's race by the talented Windborne, a dual stakes winner who has been placed in her last two starts including the Gr. 3 Mr Tiz Trophy.

Xtravagant will be ridden tomorrow by his usual partner Matt Cameron, with Cameron Lammas taking the mount on Windborne.

“Windborne has always been a pretty honest filly,” Autridge said. “The other day at Tauranga she got back and finished it off pretty well for second (behind race rival Battle Time).

“We were happy to see that, because it's always been a bit of a problem trying to get her to settle back in the field because she's so fast. She should be a nice chance in the race as well.”

Battle Time finished second to Xtravagant in the 2000 Guineas. It was his second Group One placing, and at the time he was still a maiden. He finally ended that anomaly with a convincing win at Tauranga earlier this month, his first race since having bone chips removed from a knee after the 2000 Guineas.

“It was a good win and he's done very well since then,” co-trainer Tim Carter said. “He's tightened up since then and we think he's improved.

“Or put it this way - we hope he's improved! Hell, is that ever a good field. Just about any horse in the race could win it. It's probably a Group One-quality field, to be fair.

“But Battle Time's proven himself against that level of opposition and we're hoping he'll go well again.”

Battle Time has been ridden throughout this season by Vinnie Colgan, but Sam Spratt will take the mount tomorrow. Spratt has ridden the Battle Paint colt three times for two placings including the Gr. 1 Diamond Stakes.

“Vinnie rides a lot of horses for Tony Pike, and he was in a bit of a dilemma about this race,” Carter said. “He rang me and said he didn't know what to do.

“He asked if we had any plans to take him to Brisbane, and I told him we weren't really thinking about that at this stage. On the other hand Tony's horse (Koenigsegg One) is on trial for Brisbane, and if he runs well on Saturday Vinnie could have the chance to go over there with him. So I was happy to release him from riding our horse and wished him all the best.

“We've got Sam Spratt to ride our horse. She finished second on him in a Group One when he was a two-year-old, so she knows him well and we're not losing in quality.”

Tomorrow's race is likely to be the final start this season for Battle Time, who will be set for the spring features at Hastings.

“Our plan at this stage is to give him a break after this then bring him back and hopefully get a run in a race like the Foxbridge before going to Hawke's Bay,” he said. “That's our number-one aim at this stage. Hopefully he'll run well enough on Saturday to warrant that.”

Koenigsegg One is one of two strong chances in the race for Pike, who also lines up Hollywood Lass.

In his most recent start Koenigsegg One trounced a strong field by three and a half lengths on Karaka Million night at Ellerslie, and the Swiss Ace gelding won a trial at Waipa last week to prepare him for this.

Hollywood Lass was a $1.70 favourite for her debut at Te Aroha and rolled to victory by four and three-quarter lengths.

“I'm extremely happy with both of them,” Pike said. “Unfortunately they've both drawn out wide, which will make it quite hard to beat Xtravagant who jumps from gate two.

“But they're both very, very talented. This is the last stakes race this season for three-year-old sprinters, so they'll take their place and we'll hope for some luck. If they can get a good run from their awkward draws, they can definitely be in the finish.”

Let Me Roar is unbeaten in two starts including a six-length romp at Pukekohe last start, clocking 1:08.45 for the 1200 metres. She is a half-sister to Lion Tamer. Barnaby and First Serve are also unbeaten in two starts, while De Niro, Untamed Diamond and Cinematic are impressive last-start winners.