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Former WA filly plays small part in VRC Oaks win at Flemington by She’s Extreme

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Jay RooneyThe West Australian
WA staying links helped She’s Extreme score a Group 1 victory at Flemington.
Camera IconWA staying links helped She’s Extreme score a Group 1 victory at Flemington. Credit: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

She’s Extreme drew on her WA staying links to score her second Group 1 victory in the VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday.

The Anthony Cummings-trained filly is a daughter of Keysbrook, who was placed in the WATC Derby (2400m) and WA Oaks (2400m) behind star filly Delicacy when trained in Perth by Phil Humann.

Ridden by Tommy Berry, She’s Extreme ($2.30 favourite) capitalised on a perfect run on the back of pacesetter Pavitra ($12) to win the Oaks by a length.

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Pavitra was second ahead of the Lindsey Smith-trained Queen Air ($7.50).

A Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) winner last season, She’s Extreme broke through for her first win this spring after placings in the Furious Stakes (1200m), Flight Stakes (1600m) and Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

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Cummings joined his legendary father Bart, a winner of a record nine VRC Oaks, and son James, who won the race with Willowy last year, on the classic’s honour roll.

“There’s a lot to be said for dinnertime discussions,” Cummings said.

Tommy Berry steered She’s Extreme home to victory.
Camera IconTommy Berry steered She’s Extreme home to victory. Credit: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

“I learnt more at the dinner table and breakfast table at home when I was a kid when mum used to feed the stable.

“The discussions you’d have about horses - the problems, the solutions - all those things along the way.

“I think she was the right horse to win to win this race. It was the icing on the cake for a very good prep.”

Berry gained an inside run on She’s Extreme to snatch the lead from Pivatra at the 150m en route to victory.

“She drew a good alley (one) and good alleys are everything in racing, especially in Group 1s,” Berry said.

“But I had the right filly and I gave her a click coming to the corner and she almost ran over the top of the leaders, she was going that well.

It's a second Group 1 victory for the WA-linked She’s Extreme.
Camera IconIt's a second Group 1 victory for the WA-linked She’s Extreme. Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“I knew I just needed a split at any moment and she was going to take the race away. It was pretty special.”

Ascot trainer Dan Morton prepares She’s Extreme’s half-sister She’s Perfection, an unraced two-year-old who sold for $150,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Perth yearling sale.

Star jockey James McDonald was suspended for eight meetings for careless riding at Flemington on Thursday.

He will start the ban after riding hot favourites Nature Strip and Anamoe in Saturday’s Champions Sprint and Champions Stakes at Flemington.

Champion galloper Starcraft, a five-time Group 1 winner across four countries and successful stallion, died on Thursday after a short illness.

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