Racing: Xtravagant team keep calm

Adventador (right) stages a huge upset in the JR&N Berkett Telegraph at Trentham on Saturday.Picture / Trish Dunell

The team behind Xtravagant remain positive over the glamour colt's defeat in
Saturday's $225,000 Levin Classic as the $1.35 favourite.

"We're still happy, he pulled up well and we're putting it down to the rain-affected track," said co-trainer Jamie Richards.

"He got attacked [in front] by one, then by two, then by three and Matt [Cameron] said he quickened up nicely on the bend, but couldn't keep it going in that ground.

"We'll give him a couple of days to get over the run then get him checked out just to confirm he's okay then make our plans from there.

"We'll put a line through that run and move forward. When you've got an $80 shot winning the Telegraph you know something is wrong with the track. No disrespect to the winner Adventador, but it couldn't run a place in an open sprint at Hastings on January 1."

Cameron had his biggest recent disappointment aboard Xtravagant and copped his greatest surprise in winning the $250,000 Berkett Telegraph on Adventador. Particularly when that could have ended in disaster. Cameron and Adventador went through the running rail on the way to the barriers, but no harm was done.

"He travelled nicely in the run," said Cameron.

"He changed leg up the straight, but he had the momentum to keep going. He got the track to suit but it was right against Xtravagant, he'll be back winning group ones."

Co-trainer Grant Cullen is no stranger to Trentham upsets. These days he trains in partnership with Guy Lowry, but during his solo career he produced the 1999 Wellington Cup winner Miss Bailey at a cracking $142.

Adventador has had an interesting career - he's had a corrective respiratory operation and he races with a metal plate in a leg.