Xtravagant Ticks the Boxes

The Informant reports:

A week out from his Australian debut, star three-year-old Xtravagant ticked all the boxes with an impressive gallop at Matamata on Thursday morning.

The last-start NRM Sprint winner was handled by his regular work rider Daniel Miller when he worked in company with Duchess Kate on the plough. The pair cut out 1200m in 1:21.2, building momentum to run the last 1000m in 1:05.6 and hitting the line nicely on the bridle with a final 600m in 36.8.

The Pentire colt could have easily run faster time, but according to Stephen Autridge, the workout was all that he and co-trainer Jamie Richards were looking for.

“Everything's going to plan, we really couldn't be happier with him,” Autridge told www.theinformant.co.nz. “He'll have his final hitout on Tuesday and be on the float to the airport late Wednesday morning.

“That should have him in Melbourne and in his box at Flemington before the end of the day. That will be ideal given he will have done all his serious work at home and he'll only have to potter through the rest of the week.

“A big part of the way he's coping with everything is that he's really growing up. Each morning he's coming across from the stables and spending time just walking around the tie-ups, taking it all in.

“He's gone from a wide-eyed boy to a grown-up, and when he lands in Melbourne he'll need to be to cope with what's waiting for him over there.”

Xtravagant's big mission is Saturday's A$750,000 Australian Guineas, for which he the $3.75 favourite. Should he perform up to that rating he may back up a week later in the A$1.5 million Australian Cup, with bookies keeping him safe as the $8 equal third favourite in what would be his first test at 2000 metres.

“It's one step at a time but the Australian Cup is under consideration,” added Autridge. “It would give us a line on whether he's a genuine Cox Plate chance for the spring.”