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.
