by Kristen Manning/The Thoroughbred Report
Extreme Choice (Aus) made history in the 2024 G1 Melbourne Cup by siring the longshot Knight's Choice (Aus), who stunned as Australia's top stayer. For Sheila Laxon, the first official female trainer to win a Melbourne Cup with Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm) in 2001, this victory marked a triumphant return to Flemington with her husband, John Symons. Owners Cameron Bain, Richard and Kaye Waldron watched their A$85,000 purchase become a A$5.8 million champion, realising breeder Norm Bazeley's vision, who originally acquired Knight's Choice's dam, Midnight Pearl (Aus) (More Than Ready), for just A$1,000.
With Knight's Choice's Melbourne Cup victory, Extreme Choice has entered a rare echelon of sires credited with both a Melbourne Cup winner and a Golden Slipper champion–a feat matched only by Sir Tristram (Ire).
Newgate's Henry Field couldn't be prouder of Extreme Choice's influence on Australian racing, “I think he goes down as one of the greatest Australian stallions of all time,” Field stated. “To have sired a G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner (Stay Inside {Aus}) and a Melbourne Cup winner from 105 runners; and four Group 1 winners in his first two crops, it is just an amazing achievement.”
Extreme Choice's extraordinary success has come despite his relatively limited initial crops, making his impact even more significant. His early success as a sire also included progeny such as She's Extreme (Aus), who won both the G1 VRC Oaks and G1 Champagne S. Knight's Choice, from Extreme Choice's second crop, represents the stallion's fourth Group 1 winner and joins a growing list of stakes winners among his select group of 74 runners, marking Extreme Choice as one of the most efficient and high-performing sires in recent memory.
Field emphasised the rigorous management of Extreme Choice's breeding program at Newgate, which has improved the stallion's fertility significantly. “His fertility has never been better,” Field said, highlighting the dedicated and careful oversight that has allowed Extreme Choice's capacity to be maximised.
The Cyclical Story of Midnight Pearl
Knight's Choice's journey began with his breeder, Norm Bazeley of Elswick Park in Walcha, who discovered his dam, Midnight Pearl, at the 2013 Inglis Great Southern Sale. Bazeley bought her for a modest A$1000, a purchase that would eventually lead to Melbourne Cup glory.
For part-owners Richard and Kaye Waldron, their connection to Knight's Choice runs deep, rooted in their history with his dam, Midnight Pearl.
“We bred and raced Knight's Choice's dam Midnight Pearl and sold her when she retired,” Richard shared, reflecting on the decision to part with Midnight Pearl but maintain an interest in her lineage. Known for her grit and consistency on Victorian provincial tracks, Midnight Pearl was the very definition of a “gutsy little mare,” as Laxon fondly described her.
The breeders of 23 horses, 21 of whom have won, the Waldrons are fans of New Zealand pedigrees.
“I loved the stoutness coming through Eight Carat (GB) and Sir Tristram coming through Midnight Pearl's pedigree and I just thought her pedigree needed that bit of zip, and that's Extreme Choice.”
When the Waldrons saw her Extreme Choice colt in the Magic Millions catalogue, they were immediately intrigued.
“Kaye saw her in the Magic Millions catalogue, and we loved that she'd been to a speed horse like Extreme Choice,” Richard said. They contacted John Symons to take a look, who soon called back to say, “Oh, I bought him!”
Teaming up with Michael Kirby, the stable secured the youngster for just A$85,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Now with prize-money exceeding A$5.8 million, Knight's Choice's victory is a testament to the Waldron's commitment.
Richard credited the firm track conditions, which Knight's Choice thrives on, explaining, “He likes a proper good track. When he gets that sort of going, he can cover his last 600 metres in :33s, and only a small percentage of horses can do that.”
100% Strike Rate
For Sheila Laxon, the Melbourne Cup win with Knight's Choice was also full-circle moment.
Known as the first (official) female trainer of a Melbourne Cup winner with Ethereal in 2001, Laxon's return to the winner's circle was monumental. Now in partnership with her husband, John Symons, Laxon has continued her legacy, this time with a horse that was a true underdog.
“What a thrill,” Laxon said, elated after the race, and joked about preserving her perfect Melbourne Cup strike rate. “And you know what is great, I love doing it for Australians; an Australian horse with Australian owners.”
Symons, who once trained in Seymour and worked with Macedon Lodge's founder Kurt Stern, was delighted yet tense as he watched the race unfold. “I was worried as he'd (jockey Robbie Dolan) got further back than we'd talked about, but what a great ride,” he shared.
Dolan Riding A Dream
Originally from County Kildare in Ireland, Dolan's journey to the top of Australian racing has been anything but conventional. Known not only for his skill in the saddle but also for his unique voice–Dolan has a side career as a singer, appearing on The Voice Australia–he is as multifaceted as he is talented. But while he's used to the limelight, the Melbourne Cup was something else entirely.
When he first moved to Australia eight years ago, Dolan started out just hoping to make a name for himself in the racing world. He's spent years honing his craft, taking on the challenging circuit with a quiet determination. His breakthrough came not only through his skill on the track but also through his work ethic, which caught the attention of top trainers, including Sheila Laxon and John Symons. Knight's Choice wasn't a favourite going into the Cup, but Dolan's confidence in the horse and his own abilities never wavered.
He said, “They were so confident in this horse; a lot of people doubted them. I didn't.
“I didn't know what to expect, but I feel like I've ridden it 10 times because I have ridden it in my head a hundred times!” Dolan said, recounting how he mentally rehearsed the race over and over, building a picture of every possible turn and move. This preparation became crucial as the race played out, allowing him to stay calm and collected, even as the horse dropped further back in the field than initially planned.
In a deeply emotional moment, Dolan was surrounded by his family as he accepted his first Melbourne Cup victory. “To win it with my father here and my little daughter Maisie and my partner Christine, I'm going to cry!” he said.
For Dolan, having his father Bobby, a man who'd supported his career from day one, alongside his young daughter and partner, made the victory even more meaningful.
Tuesday, Flemington, Australia
MELBOURNE CUP-G1, A$8,560,000, VRC, 11-05, 3yo/up, Open Handicap, 3200mT, 3:19.53, gd.
1–KNIGHT'S CHOICE (AUS), 51.5, g, 5, by Extreme Choice (Aus)
1st Dam: Midnight Pearl (Aus), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Black Pearl (NZ), by The Commander (NZ)
3rd Dam: Go Minstrel (NZ), by Kreisler (Ire)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (A$85,000 Ylg '21 MMLJAN). O-C A Bain,
Mrs K J Waldron & R A Waldron; B-Elswick Stud (NSW); T-J G
Symons & S Laxon; J-R Dolan; A$5,210,000. Lifetime Record:
23-6-3-2, A$5,842,400. Click for the
free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating:
A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Warp Speed (Jpn), 54.5, h, 5, Drefong–Deep Love (Jpn), by
Deep Impact (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (¥20,000,000
Ylg '20 JRHASEL). O-H Yamada; B-Yasushi Kubota (Jpn);
T-Noboru Takagi; J-Akira Sugawara; A$1,100,000.
3–Okita Soushi (Ire), 51.0, h, 6, Galileo (Ire)–Amicus (Aus), by
Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs A M
Saini; B-Coolmore; T-C Maher; J-Jamie Kah; A$550,000.
Margins: SHD, 3/4, HF. Odds: 90.00, 25.00, 18.00.
Also Ran: Zardozi, Absurde (Fr), Circle of Fire (GB), Fancy Man (Ire), Land Legend (Fr), Buckaroo (GB), Kovalica (NZ), Vauban (Fr), Onesmoothoperator, Valiant King (GB), Sea King (GB), Interpretation (Ire), Sharp 'n' Smart (NZ), Trust in You (NZ), Mostly Cloudy (Ire), Manzoice (Aus), Positivity (NZ), The Map (Aus), Saint George (GB), Just Fine (Ire). Click for the Racing Australia chart. VIDEO.
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