Not quite ready but Xanthus should race well
SMART three-year-old Xanthus resumes at Doomben today and is ready to shed the unwanted title of the best of his sire’s offspring yet to win a race.
Xanthus is by champion rookie sire Better Than Ready who had 23 individual winners in his first crop last season.
Although Xanthus is still a maiden, it has not stopped many pundits labelling him one of the most promising horses by Better Than Ready in training.
Xanthus first caught the eye when he beat older horses in a trial at Deagon in February.
At his first two race starts he was minor-placed behind top two-year-olds Vincere Volare and The Odyssey. Each time there were valid excuses for his defeat.
At his only other start Xanthus was well beaten in the $500,000 2YO Jewel at the Gold Coast when caught on the wrong part of the track in heavy conditions.
Xanthus resumes today in the QTIS Three-Year-Old (1200m) and will be ridden by Jim Byrne.
Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn expects Xanthus to race well today but remains cautious.
“He is pretty smart and a win isn’t far away but he has only had the one trial and that was an easy win at Beaudesert,” Dunn said.
“I would have liked to have given him another trial but he has drawn so well in barrier two he can run (today).”
Xanthus has been entered for the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) in Sydney next month but Dunn said the gelding was unlikely to make the trip.
“He is in it as a precaution but it is more likely he will have a light prep this time and come back for the Magic Millions carnival (on the Gold Coast) in January,” Dunn said.