The next Samantha Miss?
19 Apr 2022
In a thrilling finish to the Sydney Autumn carnival on Saturday, the super consistent She's Extreme finally got one up on her great rival, Fireburn, to win the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
A winner of the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at her third start, the talented filly was hampered in the running of the Gr1 Golden Slipper (1200m), won by Fireburn, a week later, finishing in seventh place. She then backed up two weeks later to run second, again to Fireburn, in the Gr1 Sires Produce (1400m). Following the race, trainer Anthony Cummings made the comment that he had to find a length and a half in two weeks... that he did!
Ridden by Tommy Berry, She's Extreme pinged out of the gates in the Champagne and held her lead all the way, with Fireburn finishing second by 0.4L and Williamsburg in third, 5.53L away. The second Group 1 winner for her extraordinary young sire Extreme Choice, Saturday's win took the brilliant filly's earnings over $715,000.
A $32,500 Inglis Digital purchase by a client as a weanling, She's Extreme arrived at Willow Park in June 2020 and was initially prepared for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale later that year before being withdrawn. She was then prepared for the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where Cummings purchased her for $275,000. While some young horses struggle to cope with the pressure of two yearling preparations, the filly is well remembered by our staff for her laid-back attitude, nothing phased her!
The same could be said for her dam Keysbrook (So Secret), who was also sold by Willow Park when carrying her first foal, four time winner Ruru (So You Think). Purchased by Aquis Farm and Julian Blaxland for $140,000, the Gr2 WA Derby placed mare has since been re-sold and is now in the hands of Randwick Bloodstock Agency.
She's Extreme draws comparisons to our very best graduate in Samantha Miss (Redoute's Choice), who also scored her first Group 1 win in the Champagne Stakes, before famously going on to sweep the prestigious Princess Series and a further two Group 1 races, plus a third in the Cox Plate, on her way to being named Australian Champion 3YO Filly.
Interestingly, Samantha Miss' win in the Champagne denied second placed Sebring the two year old Triple Crown back in 2008, just as She's Extreme denied Fireburn the same!
At the same stage in their careers, Samantha Miss had five starts under her belt for two wins (one Gr1), a second in the Gr1 Sires' Produce, a third in the Gr3 Sweet Embrace and fourth in the (then) Gr2 Magic Night. She's Extreme has had six starts for her two wins in the Champagne and Magic Night, seconds in the Sires' and Sweet Embrace and two very unlucky runs for fourth on debut and seventh in the Gr1 Golden Slipper. We'll be watching her future with great interest and hoping the similarities between the two continue!