Xtravagant
Trainer Stephen Autridge said Xtravagant (NZ) (Pentire) is flexible enough to take a sit in Saturday's Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) if required.
While the star Pentire colt's preparation in getting to Australia has been less than ideal with cancelled and delayed flights, Autridge - who trains in partnership with Jamie Richards - said a slow start out of the barriers at Flemington wouldn't be enough to derail the two-time Group 1 winner.
The three-year-old finally boarded a plane for Melbourne on Thursday, bound for Headquarters where he will stay with Leon and Troy Corstens at Malua Racing.
Xtravagant was just behind the leaders before bolting to win the Waikato Sprint by eight lengths, while his other G1 success saw him lead all the way to claim the 2000 Guineas by 8.5 lengths.
"[Mahuta] usually leads. This horse, we've ridden him in behind twice and he's gone just as good," Autridge said.
"We don't have to be worry about leading, but barrier three is ideal anyway.
"The way he races, if they're running slow, he could be in front, but if they're running fast, he'll take a trail.
"With any luck, it doesn't matter as long as it's a fairly run race."
Autridge said Te Akau Stud principal David Ellis has had a few suitors looking to buy into the prospective stallion.
The leading NZ trainer added Xtravagant's last-start eight-length win at Te Rapa was just the warm-up for Saturday's grand final, and also did not rule out potentially backing up in the Australian Cup a week later.
"We'd gone a little bit easy on him going into that race," Autridge said of his Waikato Sprint win.
"That race was just to top him off beautifully for this Saturday.
"His weight is perfect. Everything sort of says he's come through it good, and should've improved.
"The Aussies have been keen on him for a while.
"The day that he won the 2000 Guineas by eight lengths and ran a race record ... he took the record off Turn Me Loose, who was over in Australia winning a Group 1 race [Emirates Stakes] that day.
"He's that sort of horse. He's big, he's strong, he leads or races right there [on the speed], and he keeps going." Racing.com
While the star Pentire colt's preparation in getting to Australia has been less than ideal with cancelled and delayed flights, Autridge - who trains in partnership with Jamie Richards - said a slow start out of the barriers at Flemington wouldn't be enough to derail the two-time Group 1 winner.
The three-year-old finally boarded a plane for Melbourne on Thursday, bound for Headquarters where he will stay with Leon and Troy Corstens at Malua Racing.
Xtravagant was just behind the leaders before bolting to win the Waikato Sprint by eight lengths, while his other G1 success saw him lead all the way to claim the 2000 Guineas by 8.5 lengths.
"[Mahuta] usually leads. This horse, we've ridden him in behind twice and he's gone just as good," Autridge said.
"We don't have to be worry about leading, but barrier three is ideal anyway.
"The way he races, if they're running slow, he could be in front, but if they're running fast, he'll take a trail.
"With any luck, it doesn't matter as long as it's a fairly run race."
Autridge said Te Akau Stud principal David Ellis has had a few suitors looking to buy into the prospective stallion.
The leading NZ trainer added Xtravagant's last-start eight-length win at Te Rapa was just the warm-up for Saturday's grand final, and also did not rule out potentially backing up in the Australian Cup a week later.
"We'd gone a little bit easy on him going into that race," Autridge said of his Waikato Sprint win.
"That race was just to top him off beautifully for this Saturday.
"His weight is perfect. Everything sort of says he's come through it good, and should've improved.
"The Aussies have been keen on him for a while.
"The day that he won the 2000 Guineas by eight lengths and ran a race record ... he took the record off Turn Me Loose, who was over in Australia winning a Group 1 race [Emirates Stakes] that day.
"He's that sort of horse. He's big, he's strong, he leads or races right there [on the speed], and he keeps going." Racing.com
