Xtravagant by Name, By Nature

The Informant reports ...

Xtravagant by name and extravagant by nature - that was how Matt Cameron finally broke his New Zealand 2000 Guineas bogey on a colt with the name that says it all.

From barrier rise Cameron made a one-horse affair of the Sothys-sponsored $400,000 classic, dictating terms and then charging clear to score by eight and a half lengths in race record time.

Stopping the clock at 1:33.59 and with a final 600-metre sectional time of 33.04 seconds, it truly was a case of daylight second. With yet another top drawer placing, Battle Time in fact claimed second money, with Serena Miss, who had taken favouritism off Xtravagant in the final hours before the race, hitting the line hard for third.

Xtravagant is a brother to He's Remarkable, who Cameron had ridden into second behind Jimmy Choux in his first ride in the 2000 Guineas five years ago. Wearing the tangerine and blue Te Akau Racing colours every year since, he had finished sixth on Burgundy, third on Warhorse and second on Chambord and Rockfast in the two most recent, so his right to victory was undeniable.

“We drew one from the outside and there was really only one thing to do - head across and lead,” Cameron said after a confidence-charged ride. “He pulled a bit when the other horse (Amarula) came alongside, but then he was fine, he was in his rhythm.

“His turn of foot is sensational and he put them away so easily. I looked across at the big screen and thought ‘surely I can take it easy now?!

“Group One wins don't come any easier than that, but it was a team effort - everyone else makes me look good.”

The result was also a victory for Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis, who bid $375,000 to secure the handsome colt at the 2014 Karaka Premier Sale, and for training partners Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, who were appointed by Ellis just six months ago and today gave the country's leading syndicator his fifth win in the classic.

Autridge is a familiar name on the Group One honours board as both a jockey and trainer, but for Otago-born Richards this was a whole new experience and one that had him tears as the congratulations were being handed out in the Riccarton birdcage.

Autridge's most famous win in the classic came as a jockey on Altitude in 1981, and asking him to draw comparisons between that age group champion and today's hero drew a logical response.

“They both bolted in, so that says they're both bloody good horses.”

Xtravagant's big win means the celebrations are far from over at Matamata nursery Rich Hill Stud, where not only Xtravagant but also Tuesday's Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance were bred, both of them sons of resident sire Pentire.

While hard to make realistic excuses for any of the beaten runners, Serena Miss would have finished closer than third had she not been held up early in the run home.

She hit the line hard to ensure she will be a leading light in next Saturday's New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas. She will be joined in that race by her stablemate Maritimo, who won well on today's undercard, while team Te Akau will have three runners in the fillies' classic, Risque, Special Memories and Princess Davone.