Winning Horse: She’s Extreme (Aus)
Winning Trainer: Anthony Cummings
Joins his grandfather, father and son in winning the Oaks: “It’s very good. The big thing is to keep up with the kids!
“They’re setting a furious pace and for an old guy it is not always simple. But we’ve got a really nice filly and a good mob of owners that have been understanding and copped it, not that it’s hard. She’s won over million-and-a-half now so it’s not all pain.
“Just pleased to have a filly like that get the recognition and get the Group 1 certainly at Flemington.
“Keep the pressure on the two boys to keep performing.
“I’m very happy. It’s been nice to get nice horses and to develop them into the point where they can show off the way they can. Very satisfying and a good ride from Tommy.
“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. Nice to see her get the right breaks today.
“Tommy rode her very well and assessed the situation at every turn. Just rapt for the horse as much as anything.
“With her form, too, to give the accolades to the race that it should have on the Australian racing scene.”
Thoughts during the run: “Just get in front, will you.
“He was in the right spot every step of the way and it was a toss up what might happen at the top of the straight.
“He thought they would roll off but he was happy that the inside was the place to be. That turned out to be accurate and the result came.
With better track and luck she could have been a Golden Slipper winner as well: “That’s true. Brett made decision 300 metres into the Slippler. He went left and if he stayed right he wins. He went left and found a wall of horses.
“Racing is about split second decision. If you get it right you get the prize and if you don’t, you don’t.”
The family connection: “There’s a lot to be said for dinnertime discussions. I learn’t 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’m really lucky in that my kids are bright kids. They have a passion for this the same as I do.
“My brothers bred the horse. It’s easier.
Family success: “I suppose the issue with race is that there are a lot more races on that list and boxes to tick. There’s a bit of life in the old bloke yet and I’ll get to it.”
“Hopefully Ed wins it next year. Hopefully he’s got the right horse.
“I’m really proud.”
On Robert Crabtree: “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.
“I think this filly might have been our first Group 1 winner and she’s now got number two.
Winning Jockey: Tommy Berry
His first VRC Oaks win: “It is massive. I was only saying to my wife 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.
“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.
“It has been an unbelievable moment and a great training performance by Anthony. There’s just massive amount of people around her and I was lucky to be the one piloting her.
“We had the right barrier to put her to sleep and that’s what I had to do today. Even going into the Spring Champion it was like Anthony flicked a switch with her.
“(That) was a great run and probably the run she had to have. She was a bit unlucky but it meant she didn’t have a gutbuster so I felt confidently today that we had the right horse.
“She’s always been a strong worker and a strong traveler in her races, but coming into the Spring Champion she started working like a star.
“I worked her here on Tuesday morning and I wasn’t worried about the 2500 metres. You could just see how cleanwinded she is, how relaxed she’s become, she’s a different horse now.
“She drew a good alley and good alleys are everything in racing, especially in Group 1s 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.
“I knew I just needed a split at any moment and she was going to take the race away. It was pretty special.
“I’m blowing more than her (right now). Full credit to Anthony Cummings and his team. They’ve done an amazing job with her.
“To my manager, Paul Joice, mate you’ve given me a great week down here.
“But that one’s for you Dad, I love you mate.”
Beaten Jockeys:
James McDonald (Zennzella): “She ran beautifully. I think the ground is a little bit quick for her. On the first day to today with the jar out, she would have stretched out a bit better.”
Rachel King (Renaissance Woman): “Probably a little bit plain for her and I just think she’s come to the end of her prep.”
Jamie Kah (Pavitra): “Fantastic. This time next year she’s going to be a super horse, she’s just still learning.”
Blake Shinn (Foxy Cleopatra): “No excuses. Seemed to have a good run, she didn’t finish it off.”
Lachlan King (Let’sbefrankbaby): “I thought we landed in a really nice spot and it was a genuine run, she’s just probably a little bit immature this prep so we’ll see a better horse next prep.”
Ben Melham (As Time Goes By): “Nice filly, she’s 12 months away. She’ll make a nice filly in time.”
Blaike McDougall (Queen Air): “Amazing filly. Her constitution. Three runs in three weeks in her first preparation. Scary to think what she’s going to be like next prep.”
Dean Holland (Sirius Princess): “She went really good. Probably a little outclassed. The Tasmanian Oaks would be a good aim for her.”
Michael Dee (Makrana): “Too keen with the blinkers on and wasn’t able to finish off.”
Alana Kelly (Albanian Icon): “I’m very happy with her. She’s put up a nice performance for a filly going forward. She’ll be really nice in 12 months.”
