Under a rails-hugging ride by Tommy Berry, She’s Extreme displayed her class in the 162nd running of the $1,000,000 Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday.
In an on-pace dominated race, the daughter of Extreme Choice tracked Jamie Kah on the pacesetting American Pharoah (USA) filly Pavitra and the pair settled down to fight it out.
She’s Extreme kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the brave Pavrita by a length with the lightly raced Toronado (IRE) filly Queen Air two and a quarter lengths back in third.
She’s Extreme has not dodged a soul in two seasons on the track and provided trainer Anthony Cummings with his first win in the race twelve months after his son James landed the classic with Willowy, while his father Bart won the race nine times.
“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. She’s won over a million-and-a-half now, so it’s not all pain.
“Just pleased to have a filly like that get the recognition and get the Group 1 certainly at Flemington.
“Keep the pressure on the two boys to keep performing.
“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.
“I think she was the right horse to win to win this race.
“It was the icing on the cake for a very good prep. Nice to see her get the right breaks today.
“Tommy rode her very well and assessed the situation at every turn. Just rapt for the horse as much as anything.
“With her form, too, to give the accolades to the race that it should have on the Australian racing scene.”
“He (Berry) was in the right spot every step of the way and it was a toss up what might happen at the top of the straight.
“He thought they would roll off, but he was happy that the inside was the place to be. That turned out to be accurate and the result came.
With better track and luck, she could have been a Golden Slipper winner as well: “That’s true. Brett (Prebble) made the decision 300 metres into the Slipper. He went left and if he stayed right he wins. He went left and found a wall of horses.
“Racing is about split-second decision. If you get it right you get the prize and if you don’t, you don’t.”
“There’s a lot to be said for dinnertime discussions. I learn’t more at the dinner table and breakfast table at home when I was a kid when mum used to feed the stable.
“The discussions you’d have about horses - the problems, the solutions - all those things along the way.
“I’m really lucky in that my kids are bright kids. They have a passion for this the same as I do.
I suppose the issue with race is that there are a lot more races on that list and boxes to tick. There’s a bit of life in the old bloke yet and I’ll get to it.”
“Hopefully (son) Ed wins it next year. Hopefully he’s got the right horse.
“I’m really proud.
“Crabby (Robert Crabtree), we’ve got a long-term relationship. He’s been with me since 1991, 92 or something and we’ve had a lot of success together.
“I think this filly might have been our first Group 1 winner and she’s now got number two.”
Second behind Fireburn in the Group 1 ATC Inglis Sire’s Produce Stakes, She’s Extreme denied the Rebel Dane filly a perfect 2yo season in the Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m).
The daughter of Extreme Choice prepped for the Oaks with placings in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and Group 1 Flight Stakes.
Making her 11th start, She’s Extreme advances her record to three wins, three seconds, and two thirds with earnings of $1,694,325.
Bred by Aquis, She’s Extreme was a $32,500 pinhook as a weanling by Colm Santry through the 2020 Inglis Digital Online June Sale (late).
A $275,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Willow Park Stud draft for her trainer, She’s Extreme runs for a partnership that includes Robert Crabtree of Dorrington Farm in whose colours she runs.
She is the second foal and second winner from So Secret mare Keysbrook who runner-up in the Group II Western Australian Derby and third in the Group III Western Australian Oaks,
A half-sister to stakes-winner Brasileira from the family of Group winners Jorda, Aichi and Detours, Keysbrook was on-sold through the 2021 Inglis Digital June (late) Sale with Randwick Bloodstock picking her up for $60,000.
Keysbrook has a 2yo Lean Mean Machine filly named She’s Perfection that sold to Morton Racing for $150,000 at the Perth Magic Millions.
Keysbrook was on-sold through the 2021 Inglis Digital June (late) Sale with Randwick Bloodstock picking her up for $60,000, but she missed to Astern last spring after slipping the previous season.
She’s Extreme provides Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice a classic winner from 29 foals in his second crop.
