Xtravagant
Trish Dunell
Jockey Matt Cameron adopted new tactics on boom three-year-old colt Xtravagant at Te Rapa on Saturday but the result was just as everyone expected, with the favourite strolling to victory.
The dual Group One winner usually plays the role of pacemaker, however when race rivals De Niro and Conjuring pressured Xtravagant for the lead early in the contest, Cameron was happy to take a trail in third.
"That wasn't the plan but if he was going to do it this was a good race to try it out," said Cameron.
"He came back to me well and when I peeled him off the fence coming to the turn I knew he'd win.
"He took over easily and though he came to the end of it the last bit he was never going to lose. He had a good puff.
"It was similar to his Boxing Day win at Ellerslie."
The dual Group One winner usually plays the role of pacemaker, however when race rivals De Niro and Conjuring pressured Xtravagant for the lead early in the contest, Cameron was happy to take a trail in third.
"That wasn't the plan but if he was going to do it this was a good race to try it out," said Cameron.
"He came back to me well and when I peeled him off the fence coming to the turn I knew he'd win.
"He took over easily and though he came to the end of it the last bit he was never going to lose. He had a good puff.
"It was similar to his Boxing Day win at Ellerslie."
Xtravagant
Trish Dunell
Xtravagant was having his first start since he finished eighth in the Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 5 and, though he was getting weary over the final stages, he still had two and three-quarter lengths to spare over the runner-up, the South Island visitor First Serve.
Co-trainer Stephen Autridge looked both happy and relieved as he was swamped by Xtravagant's syndicate of owners as the winner returned to scale.
"He's done the job and we'll discuss during the week what we do with him now," said Autridge. "I'd say he will have a little break."
Xtravagant has now won six of his 10 starts and becomes the third Cambridge Breeders' Stakes winner for Te Akau Racing Stables, following on from Te Akau Dancer in 1998 and Burgundy in 2012.
The previously unbeaten First Serve impressed in her North Island debut when charging home for second after settling back and being held up in the run home.
"I'm very pleased," said First Serve's rider, Sam Wynne. "That is a good horse she was chasing down. She gave me a nice feel."
First Serve's connections will consider an Australian campaign for the daughter of Swiss Ace.
Volks Lightning also ran on well, for third, a short neck from First Serve, with the winner's stablemate Windborne doing her best work late for fourth. – NZ Racing Desk.
Co-trainer Stephen Autridge looked both happy and relieved as he was swamped by Xtravagant's syndicate of owners as the winner returned to scale.
"He's done the job and we'll discuss during the week what we do with him now," said Autridge. "I'd say he will have a little break."
Xtravagant has now won six of his 10 starts and becomes the third Cambridge Breeders' Stakes winner for Te Akau Racing Stables, following on from Te Akau Dancer in 1998 and Burgundy in 2012.
The previously unbeaten First Serve impressed in her North Island debut when charging home for second after settling back and being held up in the run home.
"I'm very pleased," said First Serve's rider, Sam Wynne. "That is a good horse she was chasing down. She gave me a nice feel."
First Serve's connections will consider an Australian campaign for the daughter of Swiss Ace.
Volks Lightning also ran on well, for third, a short neck from First Serve, with the winner's stablemate Windborne doing her best work late for fourth. – NZ Racing Desk.
