Stay Inside looked a picture in the mounting yard before the running of Saturday’s $3,500,000 Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens and looked even better a short time later with a dominant performance in the world richest race for two-year-olds.
From an inside barrier, everything fell into place for the stocky son of Extreme Choice.
Settled just off the speed by Tommy Berry, the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained colt peeled three-wide on the home turn. With a brilliant burst of excelleration, Stay Inside put the race to bed in a matter of strides.
It was left to Godolphin’s top-class Street Boss (USA) colt Anamoe to mount any sort of challenge. Coming from second last, Anamoe gave Rachel King a torrid ride down the length of the straight to get within one and three-quarter lengths of the winner.
Godolphin claimed third place with the handsome Ingratiating, an admirably consistent son of Darley Stud’s first season sire Frosted (USA). Damien Oliver weaved between runners in the straight to finish two and a quarter lengths behind his stablemate.
The well-supported Snitzel filly Four Moves Ahead was just edged out of third with Captivant (Capitalist) in fifth and Artorius (Flying Artie) in sixth.
”That’s a huge thrill. Michael’s done a great job with the two-year-olds as he always does,” Richard Freedman said.
“He picked the right day to work him and worked him the right way, and the horse looked beautiful here today. I thought he looked better today than when he won.”
Michael Freedman said the son of Extreme Choice is foolproof.
“He’s just such a professional. You can make all the plans in the world from barriers, but he (Tommy Berry) rode him to absolute perfection and got him into the perfect spot,” he said.
“He was able to find the right spot and conserve his energy, and with that turn of foot, he’s the real deal.
“Last year we sat at home and we didn’t have a runner anywhere. To have two in the race today and come away with the winner, I’m a bit speechless.
“We are very close to Tommy. It goes back to the Singapore days when Nathan (Berry) was the stable rider for me up there and tragically passed away. Tommy and I have had a pretty special bond since then. I guess there’s a touch of irony that he ended up on that horse today.”
Tommy Berry expanded on the close association.
“I’m lost for words. Having an association with Michael, he’s been a good family friend, Berry said.
“When Nathan passed away, he and his wife Anna and their beautiful family looked after us in Singapore.
“We came back and I ran second (in the Slipper) for them on a filly called Frolic and I told them I’d go one better for them this year.
“Before this horse had his first start I told Michael he needed time. Now he’s bloody gone and won a Golden Slipper.
“To do it for that family, the Freedmans, it just means so much to me. And to have my beautiful family here, my wife and my kids.”
Stay Inside won easily on debut at Randwick back in January. He then improved on that again three weeks later with a four-length romp on a soft track at Randwick in the Pierro Plate, after which Newgate Farm bought into the colt.
Stay Inside was a troubled fourth in the Group II Todman Stakes at Rosehill at his most recent start.
A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for Freedman Brothers/Rick Connolly Bloodstock, Stay Inside was a successful pinhook, having been bought originally from the Kingstar Farm draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $60,000.
Bred by Kingstar Farm, Stay Inside is the first winner for Nothin Leica Storm, purchased by Kingstar for $90,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Chairman’s Sale when carrying the Golden Slipper hopeful.
Nothin Leica Storm was sold for just $1,000 at the 2015 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale following a career on the track that yielded one win, in a maiden at Cessnock from 20 starts.
Nothin Leica Storm is a half-sister by Anabaa (USA) to the dam of stakes-placed Dinnigan and Pouting Lips from the family of Group I Caulfield Guineas winner Wonderful World.
Nothin Leica Storm has a filly foal by Russian Revolution pictured below at Kingstar Farm.
She was covered by Extreme Choice and Cosmic Force last year but missed to both.
Winner of the 2016 Blue Diamond Stakes, Extreme Choice finished midfield after a torrid run in that year’s Golden Slipper won by his Newgate Farm barn mate Capitalist.
Fertility problems resulted in Extreme Choice having 48 foals in his first crop, 29 in his second and 39 in his third. The son of Not A Single Doubt covered 105 mares last spring.
Stay Inside becomes the first stakes-winner for Extreme Choice, who vaults to the head of the first season sires table as well as the new leader for champion 2yo sire.
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