The Group II BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday carried a whopping $1million in prizemoney with the winner Tiger of Malay becoming the third stakes-winner for Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice, who has now moved back to the top of the Australian 2YO Sires List by earnings.
The huge prizemoney attracted a big field of 17 and Craig Williams was able to chart a good path in transit for Tiger of Malay, who surged home from midfield to score a half neck win over Frankel gelding Converge with Maurice (Jpn) colt Port Louis a good third.
Tiger of Malay is trained by Richard and Michael Freedman, who are no doubt big fans of his sire Extreme Choice, also the sire of their Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside.
A close second in the Group III ATC Pago Pago Stakes won by Shaquero, Tiger of Malay struck wet ground in two subsequent starts finishing midfield in the Group I ATC Sires Produce after over-racing and then fifth in the Group II ATC Spirit of Boom Classic when he had no luck in running.
When things fell into place for Tiger of Malay today, he showed his true colours and has now won two of six starts earning over $736,000 in prizemoney.
“I think it’s at least 15 years since I’ve been here, it’s a big thrill to come back and win a race like this,” Michael Freedman said.
“We had to regroup a bit with this horse after the Sires’ in Sydney because he drew wide in that race, he had the blinkers on and he over-raced a bit and finished out the back.
“We thought Brisbane was a nice option, I’ve always had a good opinion of the horse he just hasn’t had a lot of luck with barriers and tracks.”
Tiger Of Malay’s price was cut from $21 to $7 in the Group I JJ Atkins (1600m) in a fortnight and jockey Craig Williams believes the colt will relish the extra 200m of that race.
“The way this horse felt today I think he will love the mile of the JJ,” said Williams.
“Late he might have been vulnerable today, but to get him into a position it took a lot of riding and I think he’s got a lot of scope.”
A $255,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Tyreel stud draft for China Horse Club / Newgate Bloodstock, Tiger of Malay was bred by WA breeder Bridie O’Bree and is a half-brother to Group III winners Samizdat and Samovare being the best of six winners from six to race from Sambar.
A More Than Ready (USA) mare from the family of Golden Slipper winners Dark Eclipse and Kiamichi, Sambar has not had a live foal since Tiger of Malay, but is now in foal to Lonhro.
Tiger of Malay is the third stakes-winner from a first crop of 48 foals for Extreme Choice joining Stay Inside and Xtremetime.
The fertility troubled sire has made a huge impact with five winners from just 13 runners putting him at the top of the Australian 2YO Sires List by earnings and also the First Season Sires List shading his barn mate Capitalist in both divisions.
Extreme Choice is listed at a private fee this spring.
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