Cover image courtesy of Hawkesbury Race Club
Extremely Tempted too fast and too classy
The flashy colt Extremely Tempted (Extreme Choice) made light work of his opposition at Hawkesbury on debut for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, with Regan Bayliss in the saddle.
Extremely Tempted had looked sharp at the trials, running second behind subsequent winner and Group performer The Next Episode (Snitzel) in his first hit-out at Warwick Farm, before winning his second trial at Randwick on March 16 by just over two and a half lengths.
He brought that form to race day, leading throughout to score comfortably by just under two lengths from the Chris Waller-trained pair of Katoto (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Rocket Girl (I Am Invincible). Both closed well from back in the field and looked threatening halfway down the straight, while Priory Park (Wild Ruler) was solid in a close-up fourth.
The performance also completed a quick-fire Wednesday double for his sire Extreme Choice, following Lauberhorn’s impressive debut win at Sale.
“He's a professional horse, and when he was able to jump as cleanly as he did, and get to that position, and control the race, the way he was travelling I was very confident it was going to take a very good horse to run him down because I know he's a sharp type himself,” said Adrian Bott.
“I think each year at this time we see some horses come through these midweek races that go on to be group quality horses for us.
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“You go into these races and there's plenty of depth to them, and I'm sure there's some nice horses that were behind him that will come out and frank the form as well.”
Bayliss, who partnered the colt in both trials, was equally taken by the performance.
“He's a lovely horse. He'll be even better in the spring. I think he's got quite a lot of potential there and both trials have been terrific,” he said.
“He just keeps getting better and better and I'm very happy with his win today.
“He (Extreme Tempted) just keeps getting better and better and I'm very happy with his win today.” - Adrian Bott
“I think today will end up being not a bad form race when you look back on it as there were some handy ones in there, and he put them away nicely, and he's only going to keep improving.”
Sales info: Extremely Tempted was purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Kia Ora Stud for $550,000 from the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Extremely Tempted as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Extremely Tempted is out of the classy Group 3 winner Tempt Me Not (Strategic Maneuver), and is from the family of dual Group 1 winner Tempest Morn (Thunder Gulch {USA}) and Group 2-winning juvenile Good Standing (Artie Schiller {USA}).
Tempt Me Not, in recent years, has produced a yearling colt by Extreme Choice who was withdrawn from the 2026 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, and she has since missed to the same stallion the past two seasons.
Lauberhorn impressive on debut
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr unveiled a talented 3-year-old colt in Lauberhorn (Extreme Choice), who was impressive winning on debut at Sale under Beau Mertens.
The colt had shown ability in jump-outs at Cranbourne and Caulfield, and carried that form to race day, scoring by just under a length.
There was plenty of early pressure, with a number of runners pushing forward, while Mertens settled the favourite in a perfect position just off the speed. Approaching the straight, he loomed ominously, although roughie So You Excel (D’Argento) was making a strong run out wide.
In the end, the favourite proved too strong, holding off So You Excel, with Interrogate (Toronado {Ire}) solid in third, just over a length further back.
He still looks to have more to learn, but it was an impressive start for the well-bred son of Extreme Choice.
Winning jockey Beau Mertens was pleased with the winning effort from a horse that still has a bit to learn.
Beau Mertens | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He's a bit of a cool customer, I think he had some barrier issues in the past, but the team have done a great job at getting him to settle and relax in there.
“He trialled quite good on the Caulfield Heath, when they sit back off them and come with a wide looping run, you know when they trial like that the go quite well.
“He (Lauberhorn) is still quite immature, he's got a lot of developing to come. I think he will be better also out in trip a little bit.” - Beau Mertens
“He is still quite immature, he's got a lot of developing to come. I think he will be better also out in trip a little bit.”
Sales info: Lauberhorn was purchased by MG Price Racing and Breeding and Upper Bloodstock for $320,000 from The Chase draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Lauberhorn as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree info: Lauberhorn is the fourth winner out of Brisk (GB) (Nayef {GB}), a winner over 1400 metres in Great Britain.
She is a half-sister to Costume (GB) (Danehill {USA}), a dual Group 2 winner in America, while this is also the extended family of French Group 1 winner Epicuris (GB) (Rail Link {GB}).
Brisk, in recent years, has produced a 2-year-old filly and a weanling colt, both by Extreme Choice, and was served again by the super stallion last spring.
La Basilique flies fresh at Hawkesbury for Yulong
The Chris Waller and James McDonald combination struck in race two at Hawkesbury with the well-bred La Basilique (I Am Invincible), who impressed first-up.
The filly resumed having last been seen breaking her maiden over 1300 metres at Kensington in December, and two quiet trials at Rosehill had her primed for her return.
Fairway To Heaven (Zoustar) set a solid tempo out in front for Tim Clark, while the favourite Lighthouse Lass (Capitalist) enjoyed the run of the race. McDonald settled La Basilique three-back on the rail, riding patiently as he can do so well.
At the top of the straight, Lighthouse Lass burst through and looked the winner, but La Basilique peeled off her back and finished too strongly, scoring by just over a length.
Lighthouse Lass was forced to settle for a fourth consecutive second placing, while Fairway To Heaven boxed on well for third, another half-length away.
Sales info: La Basilique was purchased by Highway Farm for $1 million from the Widden Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and now races in the Yulong colours.
La Basilique as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: La Basilique is the fourth and final foal from Vezalay (Shamardal {USA}), a Listed winner who was later sold for $1 million as a broodmare.
Further back, the family includes Group 3 winner and young sire Sun City, along with stakes winners Royal Discretion (Royal Academy {USA}), Roulettes (Flying Spur), and Parlophone (I Am Invincible).
Cattle Camp pounces when it counts
The strong form of the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable continued at Sale, with their 3-year-old colt Cattle Camp (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) producing a powerful late burst to win on debut.
Run over 1006 metres, the race was run at a genuine tempo, with Mad About Magnus (Magnus) leading under Ben Allen and Blondie’s Award (Shamus Award) applying pressure on the outside.
Luke Nolen settled Cattle Camp second-last, tracking wide, and faced a task turning for home as the leaders kicked strongly and refused to weaken.
Watch: Cattle Camp in Race #4 at Sale, video courtesy of Racing.com
However, Cattle Camp let down impressively in the straight, charging home to score by half a length over Blondie’s Award, with Mad About Magnus also brave in third.
It was a notable effort given the race shape favoured those on speed, and the son of Per Incanto (USA), bred by Fairdale Stud looks to have a bright future.
Sales info: Cattle Camp was purchased for NZ$260,000 by Moody Racing from the Prima Park draft at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Cattle Camp (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Pedigree info: Cattle Camp is the third winner out of the five-time winning Testa Rossa mare Shanina, who has already made her mark as a broodmare.
Her progeny include Group 2 and dual Group 3 winner Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir), along with the winner and Listed-placed Hasstobemagic (NZ) (Scissor Kick). This is also the extended family of Group 3 winner Matias (Snitzel) and Listed-winning stallion Danehill Express.
Shanina, in recent seasons, has produced a 2-year-old filly by Noverre (NZ), a weanling filly by Proisir, and was served by Little Brose last spring.
