Oaks-Day summary: She’s Extreme-ly good in VRC Oaks triumph

Cover image courtesy of Darren Tindale

It’s a Cummings again on VRC Oaks Day

The Cummings family has been synonymous with the G1 VRC Oaks since the 1920s, and on Thursday Anthony Cummings followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, James, father Bart and son James, to etch his own name on the time-honoured Group 1 courtesy of She’s Extreme’s (Extreme Choice) classy performance in the Flemington feature.

Ridden by Tommy Berry, the daughter of Newgate Farm’s resident stallion Extreme Choice, endured the dream run, creeping up the fence to beat Pavitra (American Pharoah {USA}) by 1l. Queen Air (Toronado {Ire}) finished another 2.25l away in third.

She’s Extreme has proved time and time again to be one of the very best and toughest fillies in training. As a 2-year-old she ran consistently well in top-class events, landing the G2 Magic Night S. on her third start, before finishing seventh in the G1 Golden Slipper S. and second in the G1 Sires’ Produce S., beaten on both occasions by Fireburn (Rebel Dane).

However, on her final start as a 2-year-old, she was able to topple the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner in the G1 Champagne S. at Randwick.

Despite Thursday’s race being her first victory this season, she again had gained plaudits for her consistency, which included a runner-up spot in the G1 Flight S. and third-place finishes in the G2 Furious S. and G1 Spring Champion S.

Keeping up with the kids

Trainers bearing the surname ‘Cummings’ have now won 12 editions of the G1 VRC Oaks, with Anthony adding one to his father Bart’s nine, while his grandfather, James, and son James, both have won the Group 1 once, with the latter having landed it last year with Willowy (Kermadec {NZ}).

“It’s very good. The big thing is to keep up with the kids,” Cummings said. “They’re setting a furious pace, and for an old guy, it is not always simple. But we’ve got a really nice filly and a good mob of owners that have been understanding and copped it, not that it’s hard as she’s won over a million-and-a-half (in prizemoney) now, so it’s not all pain. I’m just pleased to have a filly like that get the recognition and get the Group 1 certainly at Flemington.

“I’m very happy. It’s been nice to get nice horses and to develop them to the point where they can show off the way they can. Very satisfying and a good ride from Tommy. Tommy rode her very well and assessed the situation at every turn. Just rapt for the horse as much as anything.

“It was the icing on the cake for a very good prep. Nice to see her get the right breaks today (Thursday).”

She’s Extreme provided Berry with his 37th Group 1 win, but only second in the state of Victoria; despite that, he said he was confident going into Thursday’s race.

“She drew a good alley (barrier one), they're everything in racing, especially big races, but I had the right filly,” Berry said. “I gave her a click coming to the corner and she almost ran over the top of the leader she was travelling so well.

“I just knew that I needed a split at any moment and she was going to take the race away. It was pretty special.

“I was very confident coming here today that we were on the right horse.”

Bred by Aquis, She’s Extreme was purchased as a weanling by One Plus Investments for $32,500 at the Inglis Digital June (Late) Sale in 2020, before being snapped up by her trainer for $275,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Willow Park Stud draft the following year.

While there had been question marks surrounding her stamina, given her sire, Extreme Choice, had only produced one winner beyond a mile, her dam, Keysbrook (So Secret) showed stamina in her career, finishing second in the G2 Western Australian Derby and third in the G3 Western Australian Oaks.

Keysbrook was also offered during the same Inglis Digital Sale as She’s Extreme and she sold to Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $60,000. The mare was offered again earlier this year at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale and was purchased by Kia Ora Stud for $825,000.

A 2-year-old filly by Lean Mean Machine out of Keysbrook was purchased by Morton Racing for $150,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale earlier this year and she is now named She’s Perfection. Keysbrook is now in foal to Kia Ora’s resident G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning stallion, Farnan.

Extreme Choice is the sire of eight stakes winners in total and She’s Extreme is one of two Group 1 winners for the stallion with G1 Golden Slipper S. winner, Stay Inside, who stands alongside his father at Newgate Farm, being his other.

A son of the late Arrowfield Stud-based sire Not A Single Doubt, Extreme Choice stands for a fee of $275,000 (inc GST).

Stone’s rock solid in Ottawa win

Co-trainer Mick Price believed Charm Stone’s previous race-day experience played into her hands in the G3 Ottawa S. at Flemington on Thursday, a victory that provided her sire, I Am Invincible, with his 85th stakes winner.

The 2-year-old finished third in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. on her debut on October 1 and she went two better on Thursday, beating Empress Of Wonder (Choisir) by 1.75l, whole Hell Queen (Hellbent) was another 0.5l away in third.

Price, who trains alongside Michael Kent Jnr, explained the filly had a tough preparation leading up to that race. After failing to get her barrier certificate in a jump-out at Flemington the week prior, Charm Stone then backed up in a jump-out at Cranbourne six days prior to making her debut.

“She's a beautiful type, big, strong, sound and has a pedigree,” Price said. “She's one of Sheamus' (Mills) buys for the boys and it's good that she's now got a stakes race (win).

“That makes them as broodmares, albeit at start two, and the question will be, what to do now?”

On future plans for Charm Stone, Price said the filly would now be aimed at either the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast in January or the G1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield in February.

“Personally, I'm a Group 1 man,” Price said. “She's a big, strong filly, she'll train on, and she'll have a good, robust 2-year-old year, but that's open for discussion.”

Bred by Emirates Park, the filly was purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA), who remains in the ownership, from their draft for $1.55 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2022.

Charm Stone herself is a daughter of dual Group 3 winner Najoom (Northern Meteor), making her a sister to stakes winner Najmaty.

This is the second 2-year-old stakes winner of the season for I Am Invincible, with Listed Debutant S. winner, King’s Gambit, the other. The stallion is standing at Yarraman Park Stud for a fee of $247,500 (inc GST).

Mills couldn't contain his excitement after the win and was quick to pay tribute to Price and Kent Jnr for all their hard work.

“You've got to have the backers, so I have to thank the boys, it's all down to them, you've got to find somebody who is prepared to believe in your ability,” Mills said.

“It's been an amazing ride now and thankfully we're repaying them slowly. I worked for Mick for years as racing manager and I would say he's just gone to a new level in terms of thinking outside the square and his patience with these horses.”

Mills was celebrating again in the next race on the card when provided when the Chris Waller-trained Roots (Press Statement), a horse he also co-races, took out the $250,000 Inglis Bracelet.

McDonald unbeatable on Aitch Two Oh

James McDonald chalked up his third winner of the afternoon, and seventh of the carnival, when he steered the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained Aitch Two Oh (Headwater) to a narrow victory in the G3 Red Roses S. at Flemington.

The South Australian-trained filly added a first stakes win to her record when she landed the Listed Without Fear S. in May, but was last seen finishing a well-beaten fourth on her seasonal debut at Morphettville on October 8.

However, she was able to bounce back on Thursday, staying on bravely to beat La Danseuse Rouge (Manhattan Rain) by 0.2l with Bay Thirteen (Deep Field) a further 0.3l away in third.

It was a lucky spare ride for McDonald after travel issues meant the filly's original rider, Jake Toeroek, missed the ride.

“I was sitting there on the couch in the feed room and (Richard Jolly) came up at about 2 o'clock and said, 'Would you ride one for me? I've got a lot of horses for Nev Morgan'. How could I say no?” McDonald said.

“I feel for (Jake Toeroek). He was booked and the plane never came. Obviously, it's good to get a winner, but it would have been great for (Jake) to win on her and I'm sure he would have done (as well), if not a better job.”

Aitch Two Oh was purchased by her trainers for $65,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale and she is out of winning New Zealand-bred mare Very Dogmatic (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who is herself a sister to Group 3 winner Mywayorthehighway (NZ).

Further back in the pedigree, the filly hails from the same family as multiple Group 1-winning Champions, Assertive Lad (Zeditave) and Assertive Lass (Zeditave).

Aitch Two Oh is one of five stakes winners for Headwater, who stands at Vinery Stud for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).

Razeta brings back fond memories for Lees and Bowman

On this card 14 years ago, Kris Lees saddled star mare Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice) to win the G1 VRC Oaks and on Thursday he unearthed another potential star in the shape of the well-bred 3-year-old filly Razeta (Deep Field), who showed her class to win the Listed Desirable S.

The daughter of Deep Field broke her maiden in June and was tasting victory on Thursday for the first time since that win, pulling away in the final strides to beat Grey River (Al Maher) by 1.25l, while last season’s G3 Ottawa S. winner See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) was another 0.85l away in third.

Bred by Bobby Hannon, Razeta is out of winning Commands mare Little Zeta, making her a sister to G2 Roman Consul S. winner Cosmic Force, who now stands alongside his father at Newgate Farm, while the filly is also a half-sister to Group 3 winner Onemorezeta (Onemorenomore).

Lees said it was Hannon’s plan to run the 3-year-old filly in the Listed event in the hope she could add valuable black type to her record.

“She was in at Randwick on Tuesday, in just a benchmark race, and Bobby Hannon, he pushed me into running,” Lees said.

“So, I've got to give credit to him. She's a valuable filly with a nice pedigree and it's just got a little bit better.”

Lees said that the filly will now be saved for autumn races and is confident she would handle the step into better company.

“I think we're going to have a really nice filly in the autumn, so we'll just see how she comes through today,” Lees said.

“I think she showed today she can measure up to the better fillies next time around.”

Bowman, who also partnered Samanatha Miss in the G1 VRC Oaks, his first top-flight winner, said he did not have too many options early in the Flemington straight and was forced to bide his time.

“I could see Blake Shinn travelling very well just to my inside and I thought I'd let him make his way through,” Bowman said.

“Then, the run presented itself in front of me and when I got her into clear air, the response was outstanding.”

In winning the race, the filly provided Deep Field with his 21st stakes winner and he stands at stud for a fee of $88,000 (inc GST).

Landmark winner for Newnham

Joyful Fortune (Nicconi) handed his trainer Mark Newnham a first Melbourne Cup carnival victory when he took out the Listed Century S. at Flemington on Thursday.

Last seen running 10th in The Everest, the gelding blitzed clear in the final stages to defeat Queensland raider Zoustyle (Zoustar) by 0.75l, while Yulong Command (Written Tycoon) was another 1.75l away in third.

Joyful Fortune began his career in Hong Kong and was actually retired when he retired to Australia, but Newnham decided to give him a second chance and he has already shown his affinity for the Flemington straight, winning his first start for Newnham in September.

The Everest form has stacked up, with Joyful Fortune becoming the second winner to come out of the $15 million sprint, with second-placed Private Eye (Al Maher) leading home the third-placed Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) in the $3 million Nature Strip S. on October 29.

“He looks like a straight-track specialist so you never know, he might find himself back here in a Lightning (S.) or something. All his wins have been down the straight so no need to stray too far,” Newnham said.

“Being a straight-track specialist, you look at any races down the Flemington straight and it certainly suits him.

“He's a very talented horse; obviously, he's had a fair time off with injury, but we've managed him well, space his runs out a little bit and just find the right races.”

Newnham said he had done very little with Joyful Fortune since he ran in The Everest on October 15.

“From 1200 metres back to 1000, he didn’t have to do a lot of work. He’s only had the one gallop in three weeks and he's a good-winded horse and with his previous history of knee injuries, we have to take him fairly steadily anyway,” Newnham said.