There are few more intriguing races for the two-year-olds on Saturday than the opening event, the GH Mumm Maiden Plate (1100m), at Morphettville. A debutant crossing the border from Victoria is the Ben and JD Hayes-trained Extreme Choice filly Extreme Step.
At the time of writing, the newly formed partnership of the Hayes brothers has yet to put a winner on the board, although they have several chances to get off the mark on Thursday and Friday.
Extreme Step was the poor relation of the four yearlings by Extreme Choice to sell at the 2020 Easter Yearling Sale.
The top three went for $340,000, $260,000 and $255,000. The star has been the Group II BRC Sires Produce Stakes winner Tiger Of Malay, who has turned his $255,000 purchase by China Horse Club / Newgate Bloodstock into an $826,000 windfall with the promise of more to come.
By contrast, Extreme Step sold for $70,000, with Lindsay Park Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock having the final say.
Consigned by Newgate Farm, the chestnut filly carried the confidence of Henry Field, who described her as a 'quality, well put together filly with a great shoulder and hip'.
There is also a lot to like on the dam's side. She is the third foal and first in Australia, out of the stakes-placed Giant's Causeway (USA) mare Magical Steps (USA).
The first two foals of Magical Steps (USA) have hardly set the world on fire. Her first foal Red Centre (Australia), is off hurdling and has yet to break his maiden in nine starts. Second foal Magic Mojo (Uncle Mo) remains a maiden after five starts, although he has placed twice at Saratoga.
A sister to the stakes-placed and Grade 1 American Oaks fourth Magic Affair, and a half-sister to stakes-winner Mystic (Unbridled's Song), Magical Steps was purchased by SF Bloodstock for $350,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale when carrying Magic Mojo.
The dam of Magical Steps, Mayville's Magic (Gone West), is a half-sister to Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Gay Gallanta (Woodman) and Group II Gallinule Stakes winner Sportsworld (Alleged).
Gay Gallanta is the dam of Group II Mille Reef Stakes winner and Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Byron (Invincible Spirit), the sire of cult hero Gordon Lord Byron.
This is a family that has flourished in Australia. Mayville's Magic's dam, the Group 1 Prix Morny runner-up, Gallanta (Nureyev) is a three-quarter sister to Wolfhound and Fotitieng, and a half-sister to Weekend Surprise, Foxhound (USA), Al Mufti, Spectacular Spy (USA) and Lassie's Lady, the dam of Bite The Bullett (USA).
Weekend Surprise is the dam of AP Indy, Summer Squall, Eavesdropper (USA), Honor Grades (USA) and Saithor (USA).
Magical Steps has a yearling colt by Flying Artie. Sadly it is her final foal. The daughter of Giant's Causeway died in 2019, not long after being covered by Capitalist.
Despite his limited representation, Extreme Choice maintains a $200,000 lead over his Newgate farm barn mate Capitalist in the race for Champion First Season sire and Champion 2yo Sire.
