Guineas winner Xtravagant aims north

THE country’s best three-year-old, Xtravagant, is back in training and being aimed at a $50,000 1400m-race for his age at Ellerslie on December 26.

Matamata co-trainer Stephen Autridge said yesterday that Xtravagant had done well while turned out for a week after his win in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 7. He will trial at Te Aroha on December 15.

Group I races, the Levin Classic at Trentham on January 16 and Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 6, are Xtravagant’s main assignments early next year.

Risque, who won the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton for Autridge and training partner Jamie Richards, is turned out at The Oaks Stud in Cambridge. The trainers and the stud’s general manager, Rick Williams, are to meet in the next week to discuss plans for Risque.

Races in the Filly of the Year Series are likely targets for her, along with a possible tilt at the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on March 19.

Cambridge horseman Shaune Ritchie intends to set Let Her Rip for the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham on January 30. She is turned out for three weeks, but the Desert Gold will give Ritchie another opportunity to assess her for the NZ Oaks.

The daughter of Rip Van Winkle delighted Ritchie with her solid finish for fifth in the 1000 Guineas. ‘‘She hit the line strongly.’’ Graeme and Debbie Rogerson’s filly, Serena Miss, is earmarked for the Eulogy Stakes at Awapuni on December 12. ‘‘We’re very happy with her . . . she had no luck down south,’’ Graeme Rogerson said.

Serena Miss ran third in the 2000 Guineas and was 10th in the 1000 Guineas after being blocked twice at vital stages.

Meanwhile, veteran galloper Blood Brotha is starting in Saturday’s Wanganui Cup. Trainer Raymond Connors said the 10-yearold was not far off retirement and unlikely to be tested over jumps.

‘‘He’s been a good old horse – we’ll see what happens in his next start or two.’’

Blood Brotha ran second in the Metropolitan Trophy Handicap at Riccarton on November 7 and was seventh in the New Zealand Cup a week later. ‘‘He was a tad disappointing in the Cup, but I don’t think he backed up,’’ Connors said.