Racing: Xtravagant should be too good

NZ Herald

23 Dec, 2015 09:41 PM3 mins to read

Xtravagant romps away with the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November. Photo / Trish Dunell

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.

On Saturday it should be a case of Xtravagant being too good. Although he had a break after Riccarton, the colt has been quickened up and should be fit enough to get away with victory.

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.

Sofia Rosa will start favourite in the $100,000 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic, but she might have a fight on her hands from emerging filly Preetha Varma.

Sofia Rosa won the 3-year-old race at Ellerslie a couple of weeks back, in which Preetha Varma was very unlucky being blocked in the home straight and finished faster than any of the field from the 200m.