By Ray Hickson
Like most prospective buyers, when Anthony Cummings attended last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sales he went there looking for a Golden Slipper horse.
And, as it has worked out, he left with one.
From the moment he paid $275,000 for She’s Extreme he was adamant the filly would make it to the $5 million Longines Golden Slipper (1200m), run this Saturday at Rosehill.
While she left it to the last minute, gaining entry with her dominant Magic Night Stakes win, she will be one of 16 youngsters vying for the prestigious trophy.
“I thought that’s what I was buying, a Slipper horse,’’ Cummings said.
“I’ve had some interesting discussions with some of the guys who say she’s this and that or something else and I said she might be all of those things but she will be in the Slipper.
“And we’ve turned up so we’re not unhappy. Timing is everything isn’t it.”
Cummings understands the Extreme Choice filly might appear as though she’s burst onto the scene very late, given she only made her debut a month ago.
However, the plan was to tackle the Inglis Millennium but she jarred up in a trial on the polytrack in January and he had to delay her first start by a couple of weeks.
“It looks a bit like that but with a bit of luck and a draw she could have won her first start and could have easily won her second start,’’ he said.
“For us she’s been around at that level for a while, the only surprise was it took this long for her to win and spread the message.”
She’s Extreme drew ideally in barrier six and Cummings has an air of confidence that she could be his first Golden Slipper winner.
Her Magic Night win last Saturday was as easy at it looked on the filly, with Cummings describing the 1-1/2 length win as a training gallop.
And there are obviously no doubts around her handling a ran affected track.
“I saw some comments about gut busting runs on heavy tracks but she doesn’t get into them and she finds those tracks quite comfortable,’’ he said.
“She’s not a heavy colt that sinks into it, she glides over the top and does it with minimal effort and that shows at the finish.
“We had a wide gate again last Saturday and had to go back but not as far back in the field (as the Sweet Embrace). Given the way the race panned out she was able to settle midfield and found it comfortable to pick them up.
She's Extreme wins the Magic Night at Rosehill on March 12
“She was at top speed for about three steps, she got there and Tommy (Berry) grabbed hold and eased her down.”
Until Kiamichi won in 2019, it had been 26 years since a Magic Night winner had backed up to take out the Golden Slipper. Brett Prebble, who won the Golden Slipper in 2010 on Crystal Lily, rides She’s Extreme.
After the barrier draw she firmed into $8 with TAB behind the unbeaten Coolangatta ($4.50) who Cummings said has to be a query if the track is anywhere near as testing as it was on Coolmore Classic day.
“She’s been the sharpest of the fillies but she’s not at home on wet ground and I don’t see how she’s going to avoid it on Saturday,’’ he said.
All the entries, form and replays for Saturday's Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill