News

Extreme Choice Leads Inglis First Four In Blue Diamond

27th Feb 2016

Mick Price’s unbeaten colt Extreme Choice was simply electrifying in the $1.5 million Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes for two-year-olds today at Caulfield, leading home a first four for Inglis graduates ahead of Flying Artie, Zamzam and Power Trip.

Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt x Extremely) was sent out the race favourite and after jumping well the colt travelled just off the pace under the guidance of Craig Newitt, looming large around the turn before sprinting away in the straight.

Stablemate Flying Artie (Artie Schiller x Flying Ruby) made a powerful attempt to run the colt down, but Extreme Choice proved too swift clocking a quick 1.08.95 for the 1200m, posting a quinella for trainer Mick Price, who is looking to repeat the performance in next month’s Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper over the same distance at Rosehill.

"They are two good colts, but all credit to Extreme Choice because today was the day where he had the opportunity to really stand up,” said Price.

"Today we got a lot of information about the horse, and off to the Slipper. I have got plenty of horse left in both of them, they haven't been bottomed out by today I wouldn't think.

“That little horse [Extreme Choice], when he hit the line like he did, no doubt about 1200, it just stamped him as a really, really good colt. He is like a Ferrari, they have got big motors and that's what he is," Price said.

Extreme Choice joins fellow Blue Diamond-winning Inglis graduates Reward For Effort, Reaan, Nadeem, Alinghi, Bel Esprit, and Samaready, which had the same trainer-jockey duo of Price and Newitt.

A win in the Golden Slipper would see the colt join the ranks of fellow Inglis graduate Mossfun, who, like Extreme Choice, won the Inglis Nursery on debut.

Bred and sold by Bell River Thoroughbreds, Extreme Choice was selected from the 2015 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Price’s Bloodstock Manager Luke Wilkinson. The $100,000 purchase remains unbeaten from three black-type starts and today took his earnings past $1.2 million for his large group of owners Clarke Kent, Mr A Staver, Mr M J Davidson, Mr M J Ward, Mr G G B Macdonald, Mr D M Foley, Mr G D Jones, Mr A R Davis, Dr A J Bongiorno, Moonshine, Mr D A Turner, Mrs K D Greer, Mrs L Wheeler, Mr L G Gonzy, Mr J E Turner, Miss J T Vakkuri, Mr P A Horton and Newgate Extreme Choice.

Earlier in the day, Rosemont Stud graduate Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega x Fast Fleet) showed a determined performance to edge out Bassett and Brockhoff in the Group 3 MRC Zedative Stakes over 1200m ridden by Ben Melham.

Santa Ana Lane was an $80,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the draft of Rosemont Stud for Flemington Bloodstock, and has now won three of his four career starts, and a total of $123,450 for his connections. The Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained gelding will be aimed towards the Listed South Pacific Classic on Day Two of The Championships at Royal Randwick, with Brisbane Winter Carnival riches in mind.

The gelding’s win provided a timely pedigree update to his half-sister that will walk through the ring tomorrow, on the first day of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands in Melbourne. The filly by Toorak Toff will be offered as Lot 3 from the draft of Eliza Park International.

Winx brought home her third Group 1 win today, taking out the ATC Chipping Norton Stakes, and providing another update to the pedigree of her yearling half-brother which will be offered as Lot 135 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. The son of Snitzel was bred by John Cammileri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds and will be offered as part of the Segenhoe Stud draft.

The 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale will kick off at 12 noon at Oaklands tomorrow, Sunday 28 February.

Online Bidding and Inglis’ Make-An-Offer services will be available on all four days of the sale; Sunday 28 February to Wednesday 2 March 2016.

Those not able to make the Premier Sale can watch the auction on Inglis Sale Day Live or via Racing.com’s great free-to-air coverage on Channel 78.