Newhaven Park’s promising young sire Xtravagant started the season with his first stakes-winner He’s Xceptional and his talented filly Xtra Gear may well follow suit after scoring an impressive win at Geelong on Sunday.
A close second to Peter Moody’s highly rated filly Invincible Caviar when making her debut at Sale last month, the Richard Laming trained Xtra Gear was sent out a hot favourite for the 1112m maiden for three year-old fillies.
She put herself up on the pace for Jye McNeil and sped clear over the final furlong to win by nearly two lengths.
“Her biggest asset is her turn of foot, she can sprint really well and she put them away nice today,” said McNeil, who has ridden the filly in each of her starts.
“If she had have had something to chase, she would have been even more impressive.
“She did a little bit wrong when she faced Invincible Caviar and has obviously taken good improvement, so if we cross paths again in the future she’d give it a good shake.”
A $170,000 Magic Millions purchase for Laming Racing, Xtra Gear was bred and sold by Newhaven Park and is the first winner for Stregheria, a half-sister by Flying Pegasus to stakes-winner Captain Sweet.
Newhaven Park sold the full sister to Xtra Gear at Inglis Classic this year for $60,000 to Paul Preusker Racing / Baystone.
Stregheria has another filly by Xtravagant to follow and is back in foal to the champion son of Pentire (GB).
A Champion 3YO Sprinter Miler, Xtravagant has put three quick winners on the board from just eight runners since the start of the new season with the promise of many more to come as his stock mature and fulfil their potential.
