Xtravagant
Trish Dunell
An audacious move by the connections of Xtravagant proved instrumental in the quicksilver colt bouncing back to his brilliant best at Te Rapa.
WATCH: Gr.1 NRM Sprint
WATCH: Matthew Cameron post race
WATCH: Stephen Autridge post race
The runaway Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner's reputation was dented by his fourth placing on wet ground in the Gr.1 Levin Classic, but he showed that Trentham performance to be nothing more than a minor blip with a devastating return to winning form at Te Rapa on Saturday.
New Zealand's leading older short course performers were relegated to spectators in the Gr.1 NRM Sprint by the Te Akau prodigy, who never left the much-maligned fence to coast home by eight lengths.
A downgrade of the track from a Good 3 to a Dead 4 after two events had jockeys steering well clear of the rail, until Xtravagant's team decided otherwise.
After walking the track and consulting with former champion horseman Colin Jillings, Xtravagant's trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards and Te Akau principal David Ellis decided on a bold directive to rider Matt Cameron.
"It's been unbelievable and we made a plan before the race," Autridge said. "There was a strip along the fence that was perfect and the horse showed his class.
"We saved the ground and now it's the Australian Guineas – bring it on."
Xtravagant flew the gates to lead and Cameron was happy to let Allez Eagle and Trepidation go around him and then stuck to the game plan by cornering hard up against the rail.
"It was an amazing run – we took the shortest way home and he's got great acceleration," Cameron said.
"It's so exciting to see this horse back – we knew what we had. His turn of foot is blistering and he could race over 1000 metres at Flemington and do the same thing. He's amazing for New Zealand racing."
Best of the beaten brigade was Vespa, who took second from Recite with Sacred Star back in fourth. – NZ Racing Desk.
WATCH: Gr.1 NRM Sprint
WATCH: Matthew Cameron post race
WATCH: Stephen Autridge post race
The runaway Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner's reputation was dented by his fourth placing on wet ground in the Gr.1 Levin Classic, but he showed that Trentham performance to be nothing more than a minor blip with a devastating return to winning form at Te Rapa on Saturday.
New Zealand's leading older short course performers were relegated to spectators in the Gr.1 NRM Sprint by the Te Akau prodigy, who never left the much-maligned fence to coast home by eight lengths.
A downgrade of the track from a Good 3 to a Dead 4 after two events had jockeys steering well clear of the rail, until Xtravagant's team decided otherwise.
After walking the track and consulting with former champion horseman Colin Jillings, Xtravagant's trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards and Te Akau principal David Ellis decided on a bold directive to rider Matt Cameron.
"It's been unbelievable and we made a plan before the race," Autridge said. "There was a strip along the fence that was perfect and the horse showed his class.
"We saved the ground and now it's the Australian Guineas – bring it on."
Xtravagant flew the gates to lead and Cameron was happy to let Allez Eagle and Trepidation go around him and then stuck to the game plan by cornering hard up against the rail.
"It was an amazing run – we took the shortest way home and he's got great acceleration," Cameron said.
"It's so exciting to see this horse back – we knew what we had. His turn of foot is blistering and he could race over 1000 metres at Flemington and do the same thing. He's amazing for New Zealand racing."
Best of the beaten brigade was Vespa, who took second from Recite with Sacred Star back in fourth. – NZ Racing Desk.