– A pre-emptive strike by progressive Hunter Valley breeding operation Newgate Farm to secure a share in exciting colt Extreme Choice before Saturday’s Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes paid off when the handsome chestnut blazed to a dominant victory at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Mick Price trained son of Not a Single Doubt was sent out favourite after posting brilliant wins at his previous two starts in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery (December 12) and Group III MRC Chairman’s Stakes (February 6).
Despite drawing awkwardly in gate 11, he travelled smoothly for Craig Newitt albeit covering ground and powered to the line to beat his stablemate Flying Artie by a length and three-quarters running the 1200 metres in a brisk 1:08.95.
Running home hard for third was Redoute’s Choice filly Zamzam, the most expensive runner in this year’s race having been plucked from the Newgate Farm draft by Shadwell Australia at Inglis
Easter for $920,000.
“They’re two good colts aren’t they,” Price said. “I saw Flying Artie get speared off at the top of the straight and I thought, ‘Oh bugger, he’s had no luck’ but the other colt is very good.
“This was the day for Extreme Choice to stand up and he delivered.”
Price was full of praise for the runner-up, highlighting the strength of the form.
“Luck in running was massive. Gates are gates and it happens all the time,” Price said.
“No excuses but for him to get speared off like that at the home turn and still run home is a really brave effort.
“I’ve got plenty of horse left in both of them, they haven’t been bottomed out. I’ll probably have to pay the late entry for Flying Artie to get into the Slipper but apart from Capitalist it looks an even year.”
Extreme Choice was a $100,000 Inglis Classic purchase for his trainer from the Bell River Thoroughbreds draft and runs for a big syndicate of owners that now include Newgate Farm.
His three starts have yielded nearly $1.3 million in prizemoney and with a win in Sydney already on his resume, the Golden Slipper looks a logical and achievable goal.
The run of the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained filly Zamzam to finish third was outstanding with her rider Nick Hall delighted by her effort.
“She was terrific,” he said,
“She’s a real professional filly. She’ll come through it well and go on this prep.”
Bred by SF Bloodstock, Zamzam was foaled and raised at Newgate Farm and her dam Fleu De’Here produced a Fastnet Rock filly last year and was then covered by Snitzel.
