'One of the greatest Australian stallions of all time': Extreme Choice's son Knight’s Choice shocks the field in Melbourne Cup

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A remarkable stallion

With Knight’s Choice’s Melbourne Cup victory, Extreme Choice has entered a rare echelon of sires credited with both a Melbourne Cup winner and a Golden Slipper champion—a feat matched only by Sir Tristram (Ire).

Newgate’s Henry Field couldn’t be prouder of Extreme Choice’s influence on Australian racing: “I think he goes down as one of the greatest Australian stallions of all time,” Field stated. “To have sired a G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner (Stay Inside) and a Melbourne Cup winner from 105 runners; and four Group 1 winners in his first two crops, it is just an amazing achievement.”

Extreme Choice’s extraordinary success has come despite his relatively limited initial crops, making his impact even more significant. His early success as a sire also included progeny such as She’s Extreme, who won both the G1 VRC Oaks and G1 Champagne S. Knight’s Choice, from Extreme Choice’s second crop, represents the stallion’s fourth Group 1 winner and joins a growing list of stakes winners among his select group of 74 runners, marking Extreme Choice as one of the most efficient and high-performing sires in recent memory.

Field emphasised the rigorous management of Extreme Choice’s breeding program at Newgate, which has improved the stallion’s fertility significantly. “His fertility has never been better,” Field said, highlighting the dedicated and careful oversight that has allowed Extreme Choice's capacity to be maximised.

The cyclical story of Midnight Pearl

Knight’s Choice’s journey began with his breeder, Norm Bazeley of Elswick Park in Walcha, who discovered his dam, Midnight Pearl (More Than Ready {USA}), at the 2013 Inglis Great Southern Sale. Bazeley bought her for a modest $1000, a purchase that would eventually lead to Melbourne Cup glory.

For part-owners Richard and Kaye Waldron, their connection to Knight’s Choice runs deep, rooted in their history with his dam, Midnight Pearl.

“We bred and raced Knight's Choice's dam Midnight Pearl and sold her when she retired,” Richard shared, reflecting on the decision to part with Midnight Pearl but maintain an interest in her lineage. Known for her grit and consistency on Victorian provincial tracks, Midnight Pearl was the very definition of a “gutsy little mare,” as Laxon fondly described her.

The breeders of 23 horses, 21 of whom have won, the Waldrons are fans of New Zealand pedigrees.

“I loved the stoutness coming through Eight Carat and Sir Tristram coming through Midnight Pearl's pedigree and I just thought her pedigree needed that bit of zip, and that's Extreme Choice.”

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When the Waldrons saw her Extreme Choice colt in the Magic Millions catalogue, they were immediately intrigued.

“Kaye saw her in the Magic Millions catalogue, and we loved that she’d been to a speed horse like Extreme Choice,” Richard said. They contacted John Symons to take a look, who soon called back to say, “Oh, I bought him!”

Teaming up with Michael Kirby, the stable secured the youngster for just $85,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Now with prizemoney exceeding $5.8 million, Knight’s Choice’s victory is a testament to the Waldron’s commitment.

Richard credited the firm track conditions, which Knight’s Choice thrives on, explaining, “He likes a proper good track. When he gets that sort of going, he can cover his last 600 metres in 33s, and only a small percentage of horses can do that.”

100% strike rate

For Sheila Laxon, the Melbourne Cup win with Knight’s Choice was also full-circle moment.

Known as the first (official) female trainer of a Melbourne Cup winner with Ethereal in 2001, Laxon’s return to the winner’s circle was monumental. Now in partnership with her husband, John Symons, Laxon has continued her legacy, this time with a horse that was a true underdog.

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“What a thrill,” Laxon said, elated after the race, and joked about preserving her perfect Melbourne Cup strike rate. “And you know what is great, I love doing it for Australians; an Australian horse with Australian owners.”

Symons, who once trained in Seymour and worked with Macedon Lodge's founder Kurt Stern, was delighted yet tense as he watched the race unfold. “I was worried as he’d (jockey Robbie Dolan) got further back than we’d talked about, but what a great ride,” he shared.

Dolan riding a dream

Originally from County Kildare in Ireland, Dolan’s journey to the top of Australian racing has been anything but conventional. Known not only for his skill in the saddle but also for his unique voice—Dolan has a side career as a singer, appearing on The Voice Australia—he is as multifaceted as he is talented. But while he’s used to the limelight, the Melbourne Cup was something else entirely.

When he first moved to Australia eight years ago, Dolan started out just hoping to make a name for himself in the racing world. He’s spent years honing his craft, taking on the challenging circuit with a quiet determination. His breakthrough came not only through his skill on the track but also through his work ethic, which caught the attention of top trainers, including Sheila Laxon and John Symons. Knight’s Choice wasn’t a favourite going into the Cup, but Dolan’s confidence in the horse and his own abilities never wavered.

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He said, “They were so confident in this horse; a lot of people doubted them. I didn’t.”

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I feel like I’ve ridden it 10 times because I have ridden it in my head a hundred times!” Dolan said, recounting how he mentally rehearsed the race over and over, building a picture of every possible turn and move. This preparation became crucial as the race played out, allowing him to stay calm and collected, even as the horse dropped further back in the field than initially planned.

In a deeply emotional moment, Dolan was surrounded by his family as he accepted his first Melbourne Cup victory. “To win it with my father here and my little daughter Maisie and my partner Christine, I’m going to cry!” he said. For Dolan, having his father Bobby, a man who’d supported his career from day one, alongside his young daughter and partner, made the victory even more meaningful.

Lindsay Park kicks off Cup Day with a Group 3 trifecta

The opening event on Melbourne Cup Day, the G3 Maribyrnong Plate for the juveniles, provided the Hayes lads of Lindsay Park with their first stakes race trifecta.

Saddling up four runners in the 1000-metre dash down the Flemington straight, they cheered to victory Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) who was too strong for his stablemates Bacash (Cosmic Force) and Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom).

Speaking with a croaky voice as he joked about suffering from “man flu”, a delighted Ben Hayes said that “it was a very good effort by Tycoon Star.”

“He jumped well, travelled well and did everything comfortably. He was the same before the race, he is a very professional horse.”

“Winning this race can see a horse be very competitive in races like the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes,” he added.

Jockey Michael Dee was also happy to kick off the big day in winning style and agreed with Hayes' sentiments in regards to Tycoon Star's demeanour, labelling him as “ultra professional.”

“He took a gap and won very well,” he said.

Bred by the Iskander Racing Syndicate, Tycoon Star was purchased by Yulong Investments for $350,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale and by Lindsay Park Racing for $400,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Racing in the Yulong colours, he also has Lindsay Park and a number of stable clients in his ownership.

A Flemington jump-out winner prior to his success, he is the 67th stakes winner for Yulong's Champion Sire Written Tycoon. He is the first foal for the durable mare Miss Iano (Equiano {Fr}) who won eight of her 46 starts; four of those at metropolitan level.

Served in late November last year by Written Tycoon and Anamoe, Miss Iano foaled a Home Affairs colt last spring.

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The 17th stakes winner line bred to Written Tycoon's high-achieving grandsire Last Tycoon (Ire), Tycoon Star has as his grandam the winner Miss Panama (Not A Single Doubt) whose stakes-placed dam Princess Shorna (Last Tycoon) produced the Listed Belle Of The Turf S. winner Hidden Wonder (Danzero).

For breeding trivia buffs Tycoon Star's win was an apt one, the colt from the family of the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Kenwood Melody (Royal Academy {USA}) and the champion Tobin Bronze being a descendant of the 1921 G1 Melbourne Cup winner Sister Olive (Red Dennis {GB}).

Howley looking forward to the Autumn with Opening Address

It was 14 years ago that So You Think (NZ) ran such a gallant third in the Melbourne Cup won by Americain (USA) and it was nice to see one his talented sons in the winner's circle at the same meeting.

That horse being the Liam Howley-trained Listed TAB Trophy winner Opening Address who has made great strides in his debut campaign, one which kicked off with a Cranbourne maiden fourth in early September.

Bolting in with his maiden at Wodonga at his next start, he was second in the G2 Moonee Valley Vase before his Flemington win with Howley choosing to skip the G1 Victoria Derby.

“We wanted to look after him and he has rewarded us,” he said, adding that “hopefully he can have a big autumn.”

“His run in the Vase was enormous,” Howley said, noting that one of his first supporters was jockey James McDonald's mother who is in the ownership of the stable's 2023 Melbourne Cup runner Virtuous Circle (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).

Bred by C W Kwok who remains in the ownership, Opening Address is his sire's 58th stakes winner. he was a NZ$160,000 purchase for Howley with Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) and Bevan Smith Bloodstock at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

He is the first foal for the placed imported mare Royal Welcome (GB) (Kingman {GB}) whose Group 1 placed dam Deveron (USA) (Cozzene {USA}) produced the Listed winners Haddaf (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and Lamar (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

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A descendant of the influential matriarch Frizette (USA) (Hamburg {USA}), Royal Welcome was served last spring by Profondo after foaling a colt by Circus Maximus (Ire). Her 2-year-old colt by Almanzor (Fr) was purchased for NZ$60,000 (at Karaka) by the same team who bought Opening Address.

Cup week breakthrough for Waterhouse and Bott

The second stakes winner for the day for Written Tycoon (his 68th overall), the Gerry Harvey-bred Catoggio travelled strongly on pace adding to his record the Listed Amanda Elliot at his seventh start.

“It's taken a little bit of time (to get a Cup week winner),” Waterhouse said. “But it's very good and it was a quinella for Rosemont, isn't that fabulous?!”

“He had a sticky alley, so I said to Jye (McNeil), make sure you get out. He put him beautifully just behind the leader."

Bott is looking forward to seeing what the gelding can achieve as he gets older. “I think he will be able to make his presence felt in those nice 3-year-old races,” he said. “I think he will go a little further which opens up a few more options; he certainly has a bit of class.”

Jockey Jye McNeil reported that Catoggio gave him a good feel throughout.

“My job was easy, he got into a lovely resting rhythm in the middle stages and he toughed it out late.”

The G2 Sandown Guineas is a possible target for Catoggio who was purchased for $460,000 by the Rosemont Alliance and Suman Hedge Bloodstock FBAA at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He is the third foal and second stakes winner for the dual Listed winner Palazzo Pubblico (Conatus), also dam of the Listed Phelan Ready S. winner Palazzo Spirit (Spirit Of Boom). Foaling a So You Think filly in early September, Palazzo Pubblico is a granddaughter of the dual Group 2 winner My Sienna (Weasel Clause).

Fellow Rosemont horse Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) was a game second, that Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old giving the winner 6kg.

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Rosemont's Anthony Mithen was understandably stoked to cheer home a Cup Day quinella, telling The Thoroughbred Report that “everyone is on cloud nine!”

“Gai had been telling us that Catoggio was the most improved horse in the stable and is certainly nice to get such a great result with him.”

Whilst purchased for the stallion alliance, Catoggio needed gelding, that decision made six months ago.

“He was just a bit fierce,” Mithen said. “(He) had a few behavioural issues that needed keeping in check. Gai advised us to geld him, and it was the right decision; she is a genius and when she speaks, you listen!”

Another one for South Australia

The last stakes race for the day, the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club S., was taken out by the Michael Hickmott-trained Fancify (NZ) (Niagara) who is building a nice record; this win her seventh from 13 starts.

Bred by Trish Dunell, the sixth stakes winner for her G2 Ajax S.-winning sire is out of a half-sister to the New Zealand Horse of the Year Jimmy Choux (NZ) and fellow Group 1 winner Miss Wilson (Stratum).

The win gave Wellington trainer Michael Hickmott a thrill and he was clearly delighted.

“I'm not going to apologise for getting excited,” he said. “If you can't get excited watching your horses win, you shouldn't be doing it!”

Jockey Joe Bowditch was also thrilled, describing a Cup Day win as being a highlight of his riding career.

“I've ridden at the highest level and won Group 1s but it is nice to come here and do it in front of 90,000 people, especially for Michael who I've known since he was 12 or 13 years old; we've been mates for all that time and I've ridden winners for him, his dad and his brother.”

Bowditch provided the media with a great quote when talking about riding his horse in the lead.

“There's 90,000 people here today but I've never been so lonely out in front. Especially when you straighten for home, and you're not sort of too sure how far behind you or how many are coming after you. So it's quite lonely that last 100 metres!

“But she gave me a nice ride. She got there and she switched off nicely after. She gave a good kick, she's very tough.”