Xtravagant Ticks the Boxes

The Informant reports:

Xtravagant took another important step in his exciting career with a trademark demolition in his first appearance at Ellerslie yesterday.

Returning to the races seven weeks after winning the New Zealand 2000 Guineas by eight and half lengths, the country's dominant three-year-old led throughout the New Zealand Herald 1400 to tick the remaining box on his CV.

In his only previous right-handed start, at Ruakaka in the early spring, the Pentire colt had dented his reputation by hanging badly and beating just one rival. A return to left-handed racing had worked wonders, however, and today's test in the reverse direction told connections all they needed to know.

“We knew he had the class and we were happy with his fitness levels going into the race,” commented senior co-trainer Stephen Autridge. “The only thing was back right-handed, but in saying that we were confident that was all okay.

“We decided we weren't going to make him do anything that he didn't want to, so the instructions were to just go with him.”

Regular jockey Matt Cameron had no option but to let Xtravagant slide when he cleared the gates brilliantly. Mongolian Empire and The Justice League went with the $1.50 favourite to begin with, but the race changed dramatically when The Justice League, being eased to take a trail, appeared to clip the outside hind heel of Xtravagant and hit the deck, crashing through the inside rail.

Luckily Xtravagant's momentum was uninterrupted and by the time he rounded the home turn he had snuck a three-length break on his opposition. Cameron let him stride and even though the margin was diminishing over the final 100 metres, Xtravagant still won by a comfortable length and a quarter.

His Majesty, a placegetter in his only two previous starts, indicated he won't be a maiden for much longer with a late charge into second, more than three lengths clear of third placegetter Ronchi.

“He paraded a bit fresh and then when we were left waiting in the gates he was ready to jump and run,” said Cameron. “He got around the corner good as gold considering he was by himself.

“He was starting to tire the last bit but they were never going to beat him. He makes me look good, I'm just the pilot.”

Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis, who bought Xtravagant at the 2014 National Yearling Sale, confirmed that the handsome colt's next start would be the Gr. 1 Levin Classic at Trentham in three weeks' time, with all plans beyond that centred on the A$750,000 Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 7.

The Justice League appeared to take no major harm from his fall, as did his rider Lee Tiley, who was nonetheless stood down from her remaining ride on the card.