Horse Racing: Xtravagant buy - maybe not

Xtravagant has to cope with a wide draw in the 2000 Guineas.Picture / Race Images

Te Akau's efforts to buy yearlings to make into stallions will take a massive step forward if Xtravagant wins the Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton tomorrow.

Yes, the $400,000 stake is not inconsiderable, but in terms of value the group one Guineas win on Xtravagant's profile is worth an awful lot more.

Xtravagant was a $375,000 Karaka Premier David Ellis purchase and with two wins from four starts he is heading in the right direction for his connections. The stallion syndicate includes a Savabeel and two Fastnet Rocks.

Co-trainer Stephen Autridge cannot believe his luck in how well Xtravagant has progressed in his 3-year-old campaign, but has been in the game long enough to know that he won't relax until the horses arrive at the barriers for the 3.51pm Guineas start.

"He's done enormously well, but we have to hope that continues. He improved when he went to Wellington (for the easiest win in the Guineas Trial) and has gone forward even further since arriving in Christchurch."

Autridge has not won the 2000 Guineas as a trainer, but scored one of the easiest wins as a jockey aboard the fabulously talented Altitude.

Perhaps it was Altitude that taught the Matamata trainer never to rely on anything until the horses reach the winning post.

Altitude, unbeatable among the 3-year-olds, went from Riccarton to Ellerslie where he had the Derby at his mercy in the home straight when at the 200m he suffered a heart attack and died.

The only dodgy feature the Xtravagant team can come up with is the No 13 barrier draw.

"Hopefully it won't work against us too much," says Autridge. "Our other horse Bishop Rock is drawn directly outside Xtravagant and being a speed runner he will go forward and give Xtravagant a drag across.

"We would like to see him fifth or sixth and that's where he should end up, provided he doesn't get posted three wide."

Xtravagant is the TAB favourite ahead of Serena Miss and Ali Baba.

Serena Miss was huge beating a good field in the Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa last start, getting the decision with complete authority.

The way she finishes off her races suggests there will be no problem stepping from 1400m to 1600m. From the No 1 barrier Leith Innes should be able to dictate the position he wants for Serena Miss.

Ali Baba has been the late emerging 3-year-old and goes into this feature with just three races behind him.

He looked super stylish winning at long odds at Matamata two starts back and proved that was no fluke by finishing powerfully into fourth behind Serena Miss in the Te Rapa race, just three-quarters of a length away from the winner. Riccarton is going to suit his style perfectly.

Weekend tips
Huge debut: Tavago, R3 Te Rapa: Covered a huge amount of extra ground at Avondale and was just beaten. Drawn much better this time.
Finally: High Tail It, R4, Te Rapa: Can't get over the line in front, but gets the right chance tomorrow.
Class: Xtravagant, R7 Riccarton: Looks the current class 3-year-old at the moment and bad luck looks his worst enemy in the 2000 Guineas.