3-year-old Summary: Super sire Extreme Choice strikes twice with a 3-year-old Group double

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

Tea Rose triumph makes it consecutive G2 wins for Apocalyptic

The classy filly Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) proved her maiden win in the G2 Furious Stakes a fortnight ago was no fluke, demolishing a talented field of 3-year-old fillies in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick under Tommy Berry.

The Michael Freedman-trained filly had no favours in running, caught three wide with no cover, but she still loomed arrogantly at the 300 metres, sweeping past the talented Tupakara (Trapeze Artist), who battled on for third, while Artistic Venture took second 1.68l behind the winner. Her success bought up a Group double for the outstanding stallion Extreme Choice as he had success in the G2 Caulfield Guineas Prelude earlier in the day at Caulfield with Estremo saluting the judge.

A real eye-catcher for the G1 Flight Stakes, and possibly Oaks races later in the season, was Gary Portelli’s Queen Of Clubs (Maurice {Jpn}), who looks a very promising middle-distance filly.

Winning trainer Michael Freedman was full of praise:

“I think she's pretty special. As I said on Channel 7 before, I was obviously very impressed with her first up two weeks ago, but I think overcoming a few difficulties there today with the wide run, through no fault of Tommy's, we're always a little bit worried about that gate.

"We did say before the race that he was going to need a little bit of luck on his side to try and get some cover. Just the way the race mapped, it just looked a bit prickly.

"But he (Tommy Berry) didn't panic; he knew what he had underneath him. When I saw her come up the rise and she was still really travelling, I thought ‘if you go on and win this, you're obviously well above average."

"The really encouraging thing today is, despite not having any cover, she did relax a bit better than she did the other day over 1200m. She certainly finished off today like a filly that should relish the mile.

"So I think if she can keep learning—what’s that, a third career start?—if she can learn a bit from today and come out and get a slightly softer run over the mile, it's exciting times.”

Jockey Tommy Berry admitted to some nervous moments when caught wide but wasn’t too concerned.

“It's pretty exciting. I would have loved a heart monitor on Michael halfway around. We both knew before the race it was a very tricky barrier. She's got such a big stride, and I spoke to you before the race. I didn't really mind being wide on her; it was better than being in. At least she could just use her big stride.

"We've had a big rap on her for a long time. I've had raps on horses before and it doesn’t always come to fruition, but today it has. A mile is right up her alley, we've always thought she'll get better the further she goes.”

Sale Information: MyRacehorse, Michael Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) secured Apocalyptic for $400,000 from Coolmore Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft last year.

Pedigree Information: Apocalyptic is the second foal from Shadow (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), an unraced full sister to multiple stakes performer Geist, out of a daughter of dual G1 winner Virage De Fortune (Anabaa {USA}). Her third foal, a full brother to Apocalyptic, sold for $1.7 million at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to Chris Waller Racing, Mulcaster Bloodstock and B2B Thoroughbreds. She is due to foal to Pierro this spring.

Star Thoroughbreds unveil another smart Extreme Choice in Estremo

Extreme Choice could be considered one of Star Thoroughbreds’ favourite stallions after the success of Espiona, a G1 winner and sales-ring star who sold for $4.15 million via a Magic Millions Online virtual sale. The Newgate Farm stallion likely became even more of a favourite, when Estremo claimed the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude in the famous purple colours with white stars.

The Chris Waller-trained colt had been in solid form and collected Group success at only his fifth start and first attempt at 1400 metres under jockey Ben Melham. He had to be strong late, looming up at the 150-metre mark and looking likely, but long-time leader Vega For Luck (NZ) (Lucky Vega {Ire}) was brave and kicked back. Estremo was slightly too strong, with favourite Planet Red (Admire Mars {Jpn}) solid in third and Space Rider (Zoustar) an eye-catcher out wide after blowing the start.

Chris Waller’s stable representative Charlie Duckworth said having a look around Caulfield earlier in the week, and stepping up in distance, both proved valuable.

“He came here early in the week to have a look around and Ben was really happy with that piece of work. I think that had him in good stead for today.

"The extra distance was brilliant. I think Ben, having had that sit on him earlier in the week, just allowed him the confidence to ride him where he wanted to ride him.

"He obviously had to dig deep late and he had to fight all the way to the line but it was a great win.”

Duckworth also suggested Moonee Valley hadn’t really suited the colt in his recent runs.

“I think it was just a case of The Valley getting him beaten his two previous occasions.

"We sort of ummed and ahhed whether we ran that second time around The Valley, because he was probably already looking for the 1400 metres, but we opted to run as he was well-fancied in the market and there were enough indications that he'd taken benefit from his first go around there.

"It didn't pan out for us that day, but it has today.”

Jockey Ben Melham was impressed with the colt’s effort.

“He's a horse that’s got nice ability and, just watching him, he didn't look really suited to Moonee Valley and was probably looking for the trip.

"I worked him the other morning and I thought he's just a horse that you want to keep happy and if you can keep him happy and balanced, he’ll run well for us.

"He had a beautiful run, tracked up behind the leader, I came off his back and it was pretty soft in the end. I didn't really get to the bottom of him, did just enough to win, he’s had a good experience and he was good out at the trip.”

Sale Information: Estremo was purchased for $230,000 by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Yearling Sale.

Pedigree Information: Estremo is the fifth winner from five foals to race from Tree Of Jesse, a metro-winning half-sister by Street Cry (Ire) to Listed winner Related (Elusive Quality {USA}). The family also includes G2 winner No Evidence Needed (Shamardal {USA}), the dam of Lovatsville stallion and New Zealand Group 1 winning juvenile Move To Strike.

Newgate sold a full sister to Estremo at this year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $200,000 to McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA). Tree Of Jesse has since been exported to New Zealand and is due to foal to In The Congo this spring for owner Ben Kwok, who astutely purchased her via Inglis Online in February for $18,000.

Yum dishes out surprise win in the Jim Moloney

A few reputations were dented in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes when John McArdle’s Yum (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) produced the upset under Jamie Mott, having previously broken her maiden at Seymour last month.

It was an entertaining contest as The Playwright (Written By) went hard in front for Mark Zahra and set up a big lead. She still seemed to be travelling when kicking at the top of the straight, but the race changed complexion late. At the 100-metre mark, the well-bred Chateau Eze (GB) (Frankel {GB}) looked to hit the front, but she could not hold off the strong-finishing Yum, who swept past at the 50-metre mark to win by 0.75l, with Zany Girl (Needs Further) solid in third.

Trainer John McArdle was quietly confident beforehand:

“We knew she had the finish and we were quietly confident coming here.

"She's shown us plenty at home. She trialled 10 days ago and trialled probably as good as a horse could at Mornington on the course proper."

"So we were happy with the filly coming here. I was a little bit worried when the race panned out like it did, but Jamie's got supreme confidence in her turn of foot and it was there today when we needed it.”

On her odds, McArdle added:

“I thought she was over the odds. Five weeks between runs, we thought maybe she was a 10/1 shot but when they opened a 40/1 shot, we thought she was a little bit of overs.

"I know a few boys that have had something on her today and they'll be happy going forward, I would have thought.”

Winning jockey Jamie Mott was thrilled with the filly’s effort.

“She was unbelievable… really pleasing result. I've had a lot to do with her from Day 1 and she's got some great connections who have been very loyal to John and our stable.

"We've always liked her from Day 1. She went to Bendigo her first start and she boxed-seated and literally found nothing, so we were all scratching our heads going, ‘how wrong can we be?’.

"But she's come back in good order, she was good first up and she won well last time.

"This was another test for her but she couldn't have been more impressive.”

Sale Information: Yum was passed in short of her $100,000 reserve at the 2024 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale when presented by Armidale Stud.

Pedigree Information: Yum became the first Australian stakes winner for Darley Stud’s former shuttler Ghaiyyath (Ire). She is the fourth foal, all of whom are winners, out of Dream Food (Snitzel), a two-time winner.

Dream Food boasts a tidy pedigree, being a three-quarter sister to Listed winner Snitz (Snitzel) and a half-sister to I’ll Have A Bit (Smart Missile), a dual Group winner and G1 Goodwood Handicap placegetter. Dream Food has recently left a Pinatubo (Ire) yearling filly and is due to foal to Kermadec (NZ) any day now.