She's Extreme Bests Rivals in VRC Oaks

Never one to duck a challenge, trainer Anthony Cummings' belief in the ability of brilliant filly She's Extreme to extend her talent to a staying distance was proven correct yesterday, after the 3-year-old's class shone through in the Nov. 3 VRC Oaks (G1).

Very proud moment for all of us at Dorrington Farm with the red & white carried to victory by She’s Extreme in the Group 1 Kennedy VRC Oaks at @FlemingtonVRC. What an absolute star she is … a Champagne S. winner at 2, she’s run 10 of 11 starts at Group level, with 3 G1 placings! pic.twitter.com/RywTQ1R471

— Dorrington Farm (@dorrington_farm) November 3, 2022

She's Extreme, now a group-winning filly from 1,200 meters to 2,500 meters, also ensured another generation of the famous racing family was on the VRC Oaks honor board, with Cummings joining his grandfather Jim, father Bart, and son James, Godolphin Australia's head trainer, as trainers of VRC Oaks winners.

"The big thing is to keep up with the kids," said Cummings, whose other son Edward is also a group 1-winning trainer.

"They’re setting a furious pace and for an old guy it is not always simple. But we’ve got a nice filly and a good mob of owners that have been understanding and copped it, not that it's hard as she's won over AU$1.5 million now, so it's not all pain.

"I’m just pleased to have a filly like that to get the recognition, get the group 1, certainly at Flemington."

Cummings elected to bring She's Extreme to Melbourne after a luckless third in the Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (G1) at Randwick 12 days ago.

"I think she was the right horse to win this race," Cummings said.

"It was the icing on the cake for a very good prep and it's nice to see her get the right breaks today.

"Tommy (Berry, jockey) rode her very well and assessed the situation at every turn. I'm just rapt for the horse as much as anything."

She’s Extreme’s jockey Tommy Berry, who won the Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (G1) on She’s Extreme and finished second in the Darley Flight Stakes (G1) earlier this preparation, bided his time behind the leader and eventual runner-up Pavitra before taking a narrow gap when Jamie Kah eased off the fence.

She’s Extreme won by a length, over the Richard and Will Freedman-trained Pavitra, with Queen Air running a gallant third, 2 1/4 lengths behind the runner–up.

"I was only saying to my wife (Sharnee) during the week that I've ridden a lot of good colts and geldings, I've ridden a lot of fillies and good sprinting fillies, but I've always admired Hugh Bowman and winning Oaks on good fillies," Berry said following the success.

"I guess the way I've evolved and grown into the rider I am, I wasn't a very patient rider when I was younger, but over the years I've become a more patient rider and I think that shows in my staying races over the last few years."

Berry was wearing co-owner Robert Crabtree’s Dorrington Farm colors of red with white checks, the same silks worn by the now retired Cummings-trained mare Mizzy (Zoustar )—who was awarded the 2021 Heineken Canterbury Stakes (G1) after the disqualification of Savatiano (Street Cry)—and Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) winner Catchy (Fastnet Rock), among others.

"Crabby, 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," Cummings said.

"I think this filly might have been our first group 1 winner and she's now got number two."

Fellow part-owner Monique Annetts was one of many emotional connections after the filly's victory.

"I can't believe it! She's just so brilliant," Annetts said. "This is horse racing Mecca, Flemington in Cup Week and to be winning not just an Oaks but the VRC Oaks, it's just huge, so special.

"While we didn't know if she would run the 2,500 meters, the way she came home over the 2,000 meters in the Spring Champion (Stakes) at her last start, that gave us plenty of confidence that she'd run the trip out today and she was just awesome."

She's Extreme was purchased by Cummings for AU$275,000 (US$210,77) at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, which provided Coolmore Australia sales manager Colm Santry and his friends with a big pinhook result having purchased her through Inglis Digital as a weanling for just AU$32,500.

About the same time, Randwick Bloodstock Agency’s Brett Howard purchased the group 2 stakes-placed Keysbrook (So Secret), the dam of She's Extreme, for AU$60,000 through Inglis' online sale.

Originally sourced off the track in Western Australia by Willow Park’s Glenn Burrows in 2016, who traded her in foal the following year for AU$140,000 through Magic Millions to Aquis Farm, Howard on-sold Keysbrook in May for AU$825,000 to Kia Ora Stud through the Inglis Chairman's Sale.