Visiting Melbourne trainer Mick Price had a little trouble getting into Randwick but had the last laugh when Extreme Choice won the richest race of the Sydney summer.
Price was not recognised by the gate attendant on Saturday but eventually made his way in to saddle the colt up in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery.
Extreme Choice
Extreme Choice, who was forced to run in a barrier trial to qualify to run in Sydney, and despite winning his heat on Tuesday, he was at $7.50 in the 1000m race restricted to graduates of Inglis sales.
After racing just behind the leaders, Extreme Choice was driven to the front by Glyn Schofield and had two lengths to spare on the line over So Serene ($18) with Rampage ($14) another four lengths third.
“We’ll take him home and get him ready for the Blue Diamond Stakes and the Golden Slipper,” Price said.
“He will have to run in one of the lead-ups because the prize money from this race doesn’t count.
“But this is a good race to win and he’s done it in fast time (56.85 seconds) and he is an example of being able to get a lot of people involved.
“There are big owners and ones with smaller shares and they all enjoy it.
“But it’s been a big week for him and I will have to see how much horse I have left.
“He may not be able to do both the Blue Diamond and the Slipper so the Slipper might be a better fit.”
A $100,000 Classic Sale yearling, Extreme Choice is by Not A Single Doubt and Price says he is different from stablemate Ready For Victory, fourth in this year’s Slipper and third in the Caulfield Guineas.
“Extreme Choice is a pure sprinter,” he said.
“And he won’t be stepping up to 1600 metres in a Guineas.”
As for his troubles getting into the course, Price was diplomatic.
“The attendant was only doing their job but I did have my Victorian pass with me,” he said.
