Xtravagant
Trish Dunell
Te Akau Racing have completed an about turn with their dual Group One winner Xtravagant, who will be back in work at Matamata next week.
Following a below-par performance when eighth in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas at Flemington, the Pentire colt returned home for a spell ahead of a spring campaign.
However, Te Akau principal David Ellis with trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards inspected Xtravagant on Thursday and the trio have now decided more immediate targets are worth chasing.
"We had a good look at him and he's already put on 30kg so if we left him out much longer he would get too big," Autridge said.
"We'll have him back next week and get him ready for the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes and then, if we're happy with him, we'll have a look at Brisbane."
The two Queensland winter carnival Group One targets will be the Doomben 10,000 on May 28 and the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm a fortnight later.
Meanwhile, Te Akau have confirmed they will have at least one representative in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes with Sassy 'N' Smart to run in the April 2 feature.
She finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes two runs back and, from another wide gate, was then sixth in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie.
"She just needs a draw and a bit of luck to go with it," Autridge said.
The stable is undecided if their unbeaten Diamond Stakes winner Heroic Valour will join Sassy 'N" Smart at Awapuni.
"We'll make that decision on Monday," Autridge said. "He's had a couple of trials and three runs now so we need to make the right call as to whether he needs another one." – NZ Racing Desk.
Following a below-par performance when eighth in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas at Flemington, the Pentire colt returned home for a spell ahead of a spring campaign.
However, Te Akau principal David Ellis with trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards inspected Xtravagant on Thursday and the trio have now decided more immediate targets are worth chasing.
"We had a good look at him and he's already put on 30kg so if we left him out much longer he would get too big," Autridge said.
"We'll have him back next week and get him ready for the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes and then, if we're happy with him, we'll have a look at Brisbane."
The two Queensland winter carnival Group One targets will be the Doomben 10,000 on May 28 and the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm a fortnight later.
Meanwhile, Te Akau have confirmed they will have at least one representative in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes with Sassy 'N' Smart to run in the April 2 feature.
She finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes two runs back and, from another wide gate, was then sixth in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie.
"She just needs a draw and a bit of luck to go with it," Autridge said.
The stable is undecided if their unbeaten Diamond Stakes winner Heroic Valour will join Sassy 'N" Smart at Awapuni.
"We'll make that decision on Monday," Autridge said. "He's had a couple of trials and three runs now so we need to make the right call as to whether he needs another one." – NZ Racing Desk.
