Extremely Promising

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday February 15

Gary Portelli has already won two Golden Slippers with brilliant fillies She Will Reign and Fireburn and the astute trainer unleashed an Extreme Choice colt on Wednesday at Randwick that he hopes might give him a third success in the world’s richest two year-old race.

Extreme Spirit caught the eye of champion jockey James McDonald when he trialled at Warwick Farm last month to finish fifth and after chasing the ride he was booked to partner the colt when he made his debut in the 1100m maiden.

Extreme Spirit was well fancied by punters and paraded in good order albeit carrying condition to suggest he will be improved for the run.

He jumped well and worked forward to stalk the leader and did his best work over the final furlong, letting down all the way to the post to run right through the line and win by a length.

It was a stylish debut that will have his trainer plotting his next move on a path that may lead to the Golden Slipper.

“He’s a lovely horse and was a beautiful walker at the sales and I knew he’d make into a good two year-old,” said Gary Portelli.

“He still did a few things wrong today and he will get better with racing, so hopefully we can head towards the big ones.

“I’ve got to work out a way to get there, but this is a good start.”

Advertisement

Extreme Spirit was a $150,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Valiant Stud.

James McDonald was well pleased with Extreme Spirit, who was a $150,000 Inglis Classic purchase for his trainer last year from the Valiant Stud draft.

“He’s till pretty new, but he’s got a good bit of talent there so hopefully they can get him where they need to get him,” McDonald said.

Extreme Spirit was bred by Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud and is the second winner from Miss Spirituality, an unraced half-sister by Starcraft to Group III placed Slumber Party, and she traces back to influential producer Singles Bar, the dam of champion sire Not a Single Doubt.

This branch of the Easy Date family has also produced Group I winners King’s Legacy and Oohood, so Extreme Spirit is going to be a very valuable commodity if Black Type races fall his way.

Miss Spirituality has a yearling filly by Capitalist that made $60,000 as a weanling and was withdrawn from Inglis Classic this week. She also has a filly to follow by Microphone and was covered by Harry Angel (IRE) last spring.

Extreme Spirit is the second winner from seven to race so far from the third crop of just 28 foals by Extreme Choice, who has two entries for Inglis Premier and six for Inglis Easter.

Advertisment

Race Result - Kia Ora Captivant Mdn Plate 1100m

Randwick-Kensington Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:04.72
1
Extreme Spirit
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x Miss Spirituality (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
2
1.3
Mafia
- 2c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Hell Or Highwater (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: S Clipperton 57
3
1.4
Waverley
- 2c No Nay Never (USA) x Frontalis (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: K S Latham 57
4
2.1
Restonica
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Ghisoni (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: N Rawiller 57
5
2.2
Misty Legend
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Into The Mist (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: B Avdulla 57
6
2.6
Turbulent
- 2c Russian Revolution (AUS) x Munjai (AUS) (Trusting (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: B Prebble 57
7
3.6
Los Padres
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x Matilija (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Tim Clark 57
8
6.3
Besson
- 2c Aylmerton (AUS) x Berdini (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: Jean Dubois Rdr: A Adkins 57
More Reading...
Exciting Farnan Colt Wins for Mulberry Racing
A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.