Co-trainer Stephen Autridge has searched hard for a negative around Xtravagant in tomorrow's $70,000 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders' Stakes at Te Rapa but can't fine one.
TAB bookmakers agree with the Matamata trainer installing the glamour colt a raging $1.85 favourite on Final Field betting with the tightest of the others starting at $10.
"We are very happy with him," said Autridge yesterday. "He's the same weight as when he won the group one at Te Rapa in February, he's drawn well, he likes this track and the race is run at set weights." Xtravagant's bodyweight is relavant because when eased from training after returning from Melbourne he quickly put on 25kg. "That's one of the reasons he's in work now because we couldn't leave him until the spring otherwise he'd have slapped on too much weight.
The set weights is a massive advantage to Xtravagant. As a dual group one-winning colt he is rated at 103, with the next highest rated horse in the race, Battle Time is on 75. On a surface that looks likely to be perfect, Xtravagant's sheer brilliance should be sufficient to have him clear of the opposition.
However, despite the presence of a standout favourite, in terms of depth of talent this is the strongest line-up for this race in decades.