Xtravagant Too Good?

The New Zealand Herald reports:

Jamie Richards doesn't pinch himself every morning he wakes up, but you wouldn't blame him if he did.

In his first full year as a trainer in partnership with Stephen Autridge, Richards and the Te Akau team have the current favourites for the New Zealand Derby and the Australian Derby, Scrutinize and Xtravagant.

Ellerslie racegoers will get the chance to see both in the next week, Xtravagant in Saturday's $50,000 New Zealand Herald 3YO and Scrutinize in next week's $100,000 Great Northern Guineas.

"We are very proud to be in that position with two different horses," says Te Akau principal David Ellis.

This will be Xtravagant's first public appearance since raising eyebrows with his runaway fabulous victory in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton. It was shades of the ill-fated Altitude who, with Stephen Autridge in the saddle, made his 3-year-old opposition look second rate before his demise in the Derby at Ellerslie.

The Justice League has been freshened since failing in the 2000 Guineas. He goes his best races when fresh and his class at times is unquestioned. Look for a prominent showing.

A number of runners in this race are emerging and how good they might end up is still to be confirmed. One of them is Mongolian Empire, who bolted in against more moderate opposition at Taranaki on debut.

He is clearly very talented and is likely to give plenty of cheek on Saturday.

Selfie didn't get all favours at Ellerslie last start and although the inquiry lodged by his connections was unsuccessful, he was clearly hampered late in the race.

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