Xtravagant out of Telegraph
Pre-post favourite Xtravagant is out of Saturday’s Group I Telegraph while a high-class filly has been confirmed to take on the older horses in Trentham’s sprint feature.
The 4-year-old son of Pentire was taken out of the race after he failed to gallop up to expectations at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
‘‘He worked okay without being great,’’ said Jamie Richards, who trains in partnership with Stephen Autridge.
Xtravagant had race rider Opie Bosson in the saddle as he and stablemate Gingernuts cut out 1000m on the plough in 1:02.2 and 35.2.
Following the gallop the decision was made to withdraw Xtravagant from the Trentham feature.
‘‘We had a team talk afterwards and we decided that his work wasn’t good enough to be going to Wellington so he will miss the race. It’s really unfortunate that we’re not going to be seeing him, but that’s racing and a decision on what we do now has yet to be made.’’
While Xtravagant has been given a red light, it’s all green for the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Luna Rossa to resume in the Telegraph.
‘‘She won on the course and at the distance as a 2-year-old and it’s a race we’ve been thinking about for her for a while,’’ Baker said.
‘‘She’s a good filly with plenty of speed and she’s really come up well. With only 52.5kg on her back she’ll be ready to go.’’
Matthew Cameron has been booked to ride last season’s Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner.
‘‘She won a trial well here at Cambridge and she’s by Written Tycoon and they’re flying,’’ Baker said.
Luna Rossa also galloped in good style at Cambridge on Tuesday morning in company with her temporary stablemate, the Victoria sprinter Odyssey Moon.
He won the Group III Standish Handicap at Flemington last time out for trainer Robert Smerdon.
‘‘They both went well in a working gallop over a 1000 metres,’’ Baker said.
Railway winner Start Wondering ($4) is now the Telegraph favourite ahead of Railway runner-up Perfect Fit ($5), southerner First Serve ($6) and Australian raider Odyssey Moon ($7). Newcomer Luna Rossa is a $12 quote.