She’s Extreme finally gains the scalp of Fireburn in Champagne thriller
Extreme Choice continues his extraordinary start at stud with second Group 1 winner
She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice) was forced to play second fiddle to Fireburn (Rebel Dane) in the Inglis’ Sires (Gr 1, 1400m) but yesterday she finally got the better of the dual Group 1 winner when she added the first top-flight victory to her CV in the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick and in the process wrote another thrilling chapter in the extraordinary story of Newgate Farm-based sire Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt).
Trained by Anthony Cummings, who provided the first leg of a double for the Cummings family, with his son James saddling Cascadian (New Approach) to win the All-Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) later on in the afternoon, She’s Extreme has performed admirably all season.
After finishing second in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) in February, the filly then broke her maiden in the Magic Night Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) in March before finishing seventh behind the Gary Portelli-trained Fireburn in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) a week later.
Having run a brave second in the Inglis Sires’ on April 2, Cummings said he was confident the filly would see out the 1600-metre trip given her dam, Keysbrook (So Secret), was a winner at up to 2100 metres and was also placed in the 2015 WA Derby (Gr 2, 2400m).
“It was as simple as working her to her pedigree,” Cummings said.
“With a stayer’s pedigree, when you’re working them for short races to try to keep them fresh, they can do it, but they don’t do it as well. As soon as you flick the switch and you start to work them to their pedigree, they get stronger, and that’s what she did.”
Fireburn was attempting to join an illustrious list of two-year-olds to win the juvenile triple-crown, but Portelli – who was first to congratulate Cummings after the victory – said the slowly run race put paid to the daughter of Rebel Dane’s (California Dane) chances and she did not have enough left in her legs to run down She’s Extreme, eventually going down fighting by a quarter of a length. Williamsburg (Snitzel) was another five and a quarter lengths further back in third.
“The winner was too good today, “Portelli said.
“It kicked on the corner, it was a slow-run race which was a worry and she just had too big a task to run it down.”
Having recently lost his best horse Libertini (I Am Invincible), who collapsed and died suddenly at trackwork, Cummings said She’s Extreme’s victory held extra meaning for him and his team.
It was also a significant triumph for jockey Tommy Berry, who admitted he took the loss heavily when She’s Extreme shot to the front in the Inglis Sires’ last start, only to be mowed down by Brenton Avdulla on Fireburn.
“It really broke my heart when Brenton went past me the other day and it broke it even more when he gave me a wave,” Berry said.
“I think it definitely broke her heart as well. It’s hard for a horse to chase, especially a young horse, when a horse goes past you so quickly.
“When we got an easy time early (on Saturday), which we always looked like getting on paper, I didn’t want to give Brenton any chance to get next to me.
“I probably got Brenton’s horse out of his comfort zone today and that was a winning move.”
She’s Extreme (2 f ex Keysbrook by So Secret) was purchased by One Plus Investments for $32,500 from breeders Aquis Farm via the Inglis June Late Online Sale in 2020, before being snapped up by her trainer for $275,000 from the Willow Park Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale the following year.
The filly is one of two winners out of the aforementioned Group 2-placed So Secret (Danetime) mare Keysbrook, herself a half-sister to Listed winner Brasileira (Commands).
In 2020, Keysbrook produced a filly by Aquis Farm resident Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar) that was purchased by trainer Dan Morton for $150,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale in February, having been bought by David Hanratty for $45,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale the previous year.
In winning the Group 1, She’s Extreme becomes the second Group 1 winner for Extreme Choice and his rise through the stallion ranks has been rapid since joining the Newgate Farm roster in 2021. The stallion is the sire of 24 winners in total, seven of which are stakes winners which fires at an stunning strike-rate of 18.4 per cent.
Among the stallion’s stakes winners is Listed scorer Espiona (3 f Extreme Choice – Dahooil by O’Reilly) and she added a first Group victory to her record yesterday when she took out the next race on the card – the J H B Carr Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m).
The Chris Waller-trained filly was touted as the next star of Australian racing when she produced a stunning display to win the Desirable Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Flemington in November, but she has failed to get her head in front in three starts since, including finishing eighth when favourite for the Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) last week.
However, yesterday she served fans a reminder of her enormous talent, when she scooted away to beat Party For One (Rubick) by an emphatic four and a half lengths. Dynasties (Sebring) was another neck away in third.
A natural backmarker, Espiona’s racing pattern has made it difficult for her to shine on the heavy tracks during the carnival and given the early anticipation, Waller admits it has been a rough ride for the filly’s connections and fans.
“She was the pin-up girl coming into the autumn and it’s heartbreaking for owners, punters, followers,” Waller said.
“I remember when we saddled her up the first day here at Randwick first-up, there was a crowd around her waiting to see who this horse was.
“And from one thing to another, there was no-one there watching her today. There were a couple of loyals, but in the spring, they will (all) be back. She should have won a Group 1, but she will get her chance. She is very good.”
Jockey James McDonald settled Espiona within striking distance of the leaders and she strode up to join them at the top of the straight before lengthening stride and shooting clear.
“It has been a tricky autumn for a lot of connections and horses,” Waller said, who confirmed the filly would now head to the paddock for a spell.
“She has been ready to go every week, but it’s just been one rain shower after another.
“She came into the autumn having two race starts so she will go to the spring a pretty confident horse now and ready to bounce to the next level.”
McDonald said Espiona again didn’t relish the wet track but was a class above her opposition.
“She tracked up beautifully, when I did let her go,” McDonald said.
“She’s a filly that’s just crying out for good ground. She’s just getting away with it (being) a little bit better than them today.”
“She’s a topliner but she just needs certain things to go her way.”
Espiona, bred and sold by Torryburn Stud, was purchased by Star Thoroughbreds’ Denise Martin and Randwick Bloodstock’s Brett Howard for $190,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
From a current family, the three-year-old filly is a daughter of winning mare Dahooil (O’Reilly), a sister to stakes winner Bonny O’Reilly and a three-quarter sister to Rare Insight, Escadaire and Simply You, the dam of Group 2-winning three-year-old Forgot You (Savabeel).
Dahooil foaled a colt by Capitalist (Written Tycoon) on October 25 and last November she was covered by Golden Slipper winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) in order to produce a three-quarter sibling to Espiona.