Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr would like to get a ‘big one’ on the board for Extreme Warrior before he is shipped off to stud for the coming breeding season.
That big one may come as early as Saturday when Extreme Warrior lines up in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville.
With Extreme Warrior’s sire Extreme Choice having fertility issues resulting in small books, it is that sires’ sons that breeders have turned to stand at stud.
Victoria’s Rosemont Stud purchased the controlling interest in Extreme Warrior after he won the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last spring.
Extreme Warrior subsequently went on to finish midfield behind Home Affairs in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day, returning last month to win the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
“It’s a big one to get if we can get it,” Kent Jnr said.
“He’s a Group 1 talented colt and he won first-up. He was a bit big and fresh and sweated up in the yard but has had the benefit of a month between runs.
“He trialled last week, beating Lombardo and Star Patrol and he’ll go to Adelaide with Jamie Kah on board and hopefully will be hard to beat.”
Price and Kent will also saddle Lombardo in the 1200m dash.
Lomardo loves travelling to Adelaide and is unbeaten in four starts, winning twice on the Parks track and twice on the main track at Morphettville.
His most recent victory was in the Listed Manihi Stakes (1100m) on April 2 which was followed by a sixth in The Discovery at Sale on Good Friday, followed by a last start second to Regardsmaree in the VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield on April 23.
“He takes a while to get fit, so we put a few races together,” Kent Jnr said.
“He was beaten a bob of the head last start and now that we’ve had the benefit of a month between runs, he’s got that fitness but also the freshness in his legs.
“He’s a tough gelding, he’s got a great winning strike-rate and I think he’ll make his presence felt.”