Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday June 24

There are few more intriguing races for the two-year-olds on Saturday than the opening event, the GH Mumm Maiden Plate (1100m), at Morphettville.  A debutant crossing the border from Victoria is the Ben and JD Hayes-trained Extreme Choice filly Extreme Step.

At the time of writing, the newly formed partnership of the Hayes brothers has yet to put a winner on the board, although they have several chances to get off the mark on Thursday and Friday.

Extreme Step was the poor relation of the four yearlings by Extreme Choice to sell at the 2020 Easter Yearling Sale.

The top three went for $340,000, $260,000 and $255,000. The star has been the Group II BRC Sires Produce Stakes winner Tiger Of Malay, who has turned his $255,000 purchase by China Horse Club / Newgate Bloodstock into an $826,000 windfall with the promise of more to come.

By contrast, Extreme Step sold for $70,000, with Lindsay Park Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock having the final say.

Extreme Step a $70,000 Easter Yearling

Consigned by Newgate Farm, the chestnut filly carried the confidence of Henry Field, who described her as a 'quality, well put together filly with a great shoulder and hip'.

There is also a lot to like on the dam's side. She is the third foal and first in Australia, out of the stakes-placed Giant's Causeway (USA) mare Magical Steps (USA).

The first two foals of Magical Steps (USA) have hardly set the world on fire. Her first foal Red Centre (Australia), is off hurdling and has yet to break his maiden in nine starts. Second foal Magic Mojo (Uncle Mo) remains a maiden after five starts, although he has placed twice at Saratoga.

Advertisement

A sister to the stakes-placed and Grade 1 American Oaks fourth Magic Affair, and a half-sister to stakes-winner Mystic (Unbridled's Song), Magical Steps was purchased by SF Bloodstock for $350,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale when carrying Magic Mojo.

The dam of Magical Steps, Mayville's Magic (Gone West), is a half-sister to Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Gay Gallanta (Woodman) and Group II Gallinule Stakes winner Sportsworld (Alleged).

Gay Gallanta is the dam of Group II Mille Reef Stakes winner and Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Byron (Invincible Spirit), the sire of cult hero Gordon Lord Byron.

This is a family that has flourished in Australia. Mayville's Magic's dam, the Group 1 Prix Morny runner-up, Gallanta (Nureyev) is a three-quarter sister to Wolfhound and Fotitieng, and a half-sister to Weekend Surprise, Foxhound (USA), Al Mufti, Spectacular Spy (USA) and Lassie's Lady, the dam of Bite The Bullett (USA).

Weekend Surprise is the dam of AP Indy, Summer Squall, Eavesdropper (USA), Honor Grades (USA) and Saithor (USA).     

Magical Steps has a yearling colt by Flying Artie. Sadly it is her final foal. The daughter of Giant's Causeway died in 2019, not long after being covered by Capitalist.

Despite his limited representation, Extreme Choice maintains a $200,000 lead over his Newgate farm barn mate Capitalist in the race for Champion First Season sire and Champion 2yo Sire.

Extreme Choice

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.