For Bell River Thoroughbreds to send mares to Extreme Warrior is not much of a surprise, given that they bred his sire Extreme Choice. And in 2025, they have a colt foal by Extreme Warrior from Super Swell (Danbird).
“We wanted a couple of them and we did like the horse in his racing career. He was probably a Group 1 horse in the making but didn’t get there due to a few niggly issues,” Jock Ferguson said.
“There are a limited number of Extreme Warriors, as he’s similar to his father in terms of fertility.”
Extreme Warrior covered 113 mares in his first season and has 47 2-year-olds with a similar percentage for his second season resulting in 38 yearlings.
Jock Ferguson | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Close relative to Bel Merci
Bell River Thoroughbreds bred and raced Group 3 winner Bel Merci (Extreme Choice) and have been investing in the family with Super Swell (Danroad) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Bel Mer (Bel Esprit), the dam of Bel Merci.
“She’s a close relation to Bel Merci who is by Extreme Choice. It’s not a nick but more of a close relation in a commercial sense,” said Ferguson. The Ferguson family purchased Super Swell at the Inglis Sydney Broodmare Sale of 2019 for $58,000.
“The colt is physically a nice style of horse, he’s got strength and substance and a lot of quality to go with it. The mare also carries a lot of substance being by Danbird.”
Bel Merci | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Super Swell won three races at 1000 metres and has produced five winners. Her 3-year-old filly Spirit Of Bluey (Spirit Of Boom) won recently and she has a Spirit Of Boom 2-year-old filly.
Super Swell’s dam Listed Sandown Park UK Stakes winner Drop Anchor (At Talaq {USA}) produced Bel Mer, dam of Bel Merci and Listed Christmas Stakes winner All Too Royal (All Too Hard).
On winning a trial so early
Rosemont’s Ryan McEvoy told TTR that they are eagerly awaiting the mares they have in foal to Extreme Warrior. “We have at least three in the foaling paddocks who should foal this week,” McEvoy said.
“You’re always hopeful at this time of year with a young stallion that he might have an immediate impact. Extreme Warrior was Extreme Choice’s highest rated 3-year-old colt (when he retired) but he was a sharp, early 2-year-old himself. It’s come as no surprise that he’s able to get an early runner and show that precocity that the sire line has become renowned for.”
Gallery: Extreme Warrior x Super Swell colt, images supplied
Extreme Warrior placed twice at Listed level as a 2-year-old, and improved at three to win the G3 Blue Sapphire and Listed Bel Esprit Stakes.
“The yearlings we saw (at the 2025 sales) gave the impression that they would come to hand quickly. He’s had four to the jump outs and trials already with Blandford Baron winning and Half Pipe placing and a couple at the jump outs at Flemington last week. Annabel and Rob (Archibald) have a big opinion of Half Pipe, who I believe is running in the Breeders Plate on Saturday.
“All indications suggest that there’s a bit to be excited about.”
