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Trainer had faith in filly’s ability to run out Oaks trip
Many doubted She's Extreme ability to run 2500 metres going into Thursday's VRC Oaks, but it did not come as a huge shock to shock to her trainer Anthony Cummings.
Despite being by Extreme Choice, Cummings had faith in her stamina owing to the fact she is out of the Group 2 WA Derby (2400m) and Group 3 WA Oaks (2400m) placegetter Keysbrook.
The Sydney horseman recounted just how far back he went with She's Extreme after she exerted her class over her rivals in the $1 million Oaks at Flemington on Thursday.
"I saw her in December of her yearling year, when she was going to the Magic Millions, and I looked at her and thought, 'well you're going to be a two-year-old and suitable for that (Magic Millions) race', and that was despite the pedigree," Cummings said.
"Her body-shape at the time was one thing and her pedigree went to something different
"But she didn't go to Magic Millions, she had an issue and turned up at Easter and she'd changed shape a little, but having already seen her at the other point, I had an idea in my head about what was possible with her.
"So, I worked on that and developed that."
She's Extreme is the second to race from the So Secret mare Keysbrook, whose first foal Ruru (So You Think) won four of 14 starts between 1500m and 2100m but raced up to 2500m.
She is part of the second crop by Newgate stallion Extreme Choice and holds a unique place in that stallion's record.
The son of Not A Single Doubt famously produced a Golden Slipper – Stay Inside – as part of his first crop but has been represented by his progeny in just two races beyond 1600m.
They were both by She's Extreme; a third placing in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and the Oaks success.
Cummings paid $275,000 for She's Extreme at last year's Inglis Easter offering, where she was sold through the Willow Park Stud draft.
The previous June, She's Extreme was offered by her breeder, Aquis Farm, via an Inglis Digital Sale where she was purchased by One Plus Investments for $32,500.
She became the first Group 1-winning two-year-old to add the VRC Oaks to the resume since Samantha Miss in 2008 when she cashed in on a sweet Tommy Berry ride to score a one-length win over American Pharoah filly Pavitra with Queen Air (Toronado) 2-1/4 lengths back third.
She's Extreme won the same Group 1 as Samantha Miss at a juvenile, the Champagne Stakes (1600m), which came after a second placing to Golden Slipper winner Fireurn in the Group 1 ATC Sires' (1400m).
She's Extreme's Oaks lead-up also included Group 1 placings, a second in the 1600m Flight Stakes and luckless third in the Spring Champion Stakes.
She's Extreme will now spell with the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill in March a likely autumn target.
