Racing: Young guns centre stage at Ellerslie

Xtravagant romps away with the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November. Photo / Trish Dunell

In years past Boxing Day and January 1 Ellerslie meetings were dominated by the likes of Ray Verner, Colin Jillings and Noel Eales.

Noel Eales and Ray Verner have passed on and with Colin Jillings in retirement today at Ellerslie we'll see the real emergence of the new vanguard.

David Greene, 34, will produce equal favourite Stolen Dance into the $200,000 Zabeel Classic, Mark Forbes, 27, will saddle live upset chance Preetha Varma in the $100,000 Eight Carat Classic and Jamie Richards, 26, along with middle-aged training partner Stephen Autridge, has exciting 3-year-old colt Xtravagant taking another step towards massive headlines here and across the Tasman.

This will be a true milestone for Greene if he can win the Zabeel Classic with Stolen Dance, a mare he has done a marvellous job with this far. Greene rarely races his horses unless they are fit and ready to win and has impressed everyone with his astute approach.

The mare has done her part, despite appearing to get hot before her races and breaking out into what would normally be described as a worrying sweat.

"It's just her," said Greene without worry.

Stolen Dance can run 200m faster than just about any of our top weight-for-age horses, with the possible exception of Soriano, a trait that will eventually win her many top races. Yet despite that she has yet to race in the really top company. This is her first real test and it will not be an easy one.

Kawi, Soriano and Addictive Habit will not shirk their task and this will without doubt be the race of the day.

Forbes is similarly as astute as Greene. Despite his tender years he has a wealth of thoroughbred experience as Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud yearling manager for a decade and that is coming through in his training.

Preetha Varma can give him the ultimate boost if she can win the $100,00 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic, a race sponsored by Forbes' former boss.

Preetha Varma was at $14 yesterday after looking a touch unlucky when fifth behind today's favourite Sofia Rosa last start. With even runs there may not have been much between the pair and today's 1600m - up from 1400m - is going to suit both fillies.

Autridge and Richards will produce the exciting Xtravagant in race 4 today and even with 59.5kg it's going to take some effort to beat him.

"He's doing really well," said Richards yesterday.