Te Akau Racing's New Zealand champion 3-year-old Xtravagant (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), a winner of the Nov. 7 Sothys 43rd New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the Feb. 13 G1 NRM Sprint last campaign, will attempt to get his career back on track second out in the G1 Yulong Park Sir Rupert Clarke S. after an unplaced finish when 12th in the G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality over the Flemington 1200-metre straight first up Sept. 10. The strapping dark bay scored in the Apr. 30 G3 Inglis Cambridge Breeders S. and was spelled for over four months before his first-up Bobbie Lewis return, where the reopposing GSW Tivaci (Aus) (High Chapparal {Ire}) completed the exacta and G1SW Under the Louvre (Aus) (Excellent Art {GB}) was also ahead of him that day in fourth. After that effort, Xtravagant came through post-race vet checks in fine order and connections attributed his performance to a dislike of the straight course. He most recently reported home fourth in a Cranbourne barrier trial Sept. 19.
One horse who could potentially make things difficult for the Kiwi is Under the Louvre (Aus). After his initial top-flight score in the G1 Stradbroke H. June 11, the 6-year-old entire returned with a fifth in an 800-metre barrier trial at Cranbourne Aug. 8 and was a good second in the G3 The Resimax Heath 1100 S. at Caulfield Aug. 27 prior to his run in the Bobbie Lewis.
G1 BMW New Zealand Derby hero Rangipo (Aus) (Stryker {Aus}) is another looking for some redemption in the Sir Rupert Clarke. Spelled for 11 weeks after his Ellerslie Classic win in March, the Tony Pike-trained bay could only manage ninth in Counterattack (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus})'s G3 Sky Racing Fred Best Classic over 1350 metres at Doomben May 21, and has been on the bench since. The last named appears to be on the improve, losing by less than a half-length in the 1300-metre G2 Theo Marks S. for trainer Chris Waller at Rosehill Sept. 10, while Bon Aurum (Aus) (Bon Hoffa {Aus}), who nabbed a Group 3 on this day last term, won the 1400-metre Listed The Sofitel at Flemington the same day.
Conditioner Darren Weir has captured the last two runnings of the Sir Rupert Clarke, saddling Trust In a Gust (Aus) (Keep the Faith {Aus}) two years ago and Stratum Star (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}) in 2015. Looking to complete a hat trick on Saturday, he sends out the lightly raced MSW Voodoo Lad (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}), who is testing the waters at the group level for the first time and carries a two-race winning streak into the mix, after a win in the Listed Fruit Supply S. going 1200 metres at Moonee Valley Sept. 3. Also hailing from the Weir barn is GSP Telopea (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who took eighth behind Don't Doubt Mamma (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}) and GSW Thames Court (Aus) (Commands {Aus}) in the G2 Let's Elope S. at Flemington Sept. 10.
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