It’s been a while between drinks for talented sprinter Extremely Lucky, but the five year-old son of Extreme Choice recaptured his best form at Morphettville on Saturday to win the Group III SAJC John Hawkes Stakes (1100m).
Now back trained in South Australia by his original trainer Will Clarken in partnership with Niki O’Shea, Extremely Lucky was resuming from a spell after an unsuccessful stint in the Chris Waller stable last year.
He produced a strong late burst for Jamie Kah and arrived on the lien to win by a head.
"He's a horse that we spruiked and our stable really believes in data and he's the benchmark, the best horse we've trained in that sort of stuff, but has never got there. Whether he will is yet to come,” said Will Clarken.
"This was a Listed race and it was the right circumstances. There was good speed. Jamie rode him and I've been a believer that when you're working with a horse and things aren't going right, it's very hard to correct at the time.
"I got a bit of time when he went to Waller's just to think about things that I would do differently. I corrected every mistake I made and I'm able to train the horse a lot better now. He might have lost a bit of time there in his life for a life, but he's back now well and we'll give him a bit of time to see how he comes out of that.”
Extremely Lucky was withdrawn by Mill Park from Inglis Premier to be sold privately and has now won four of 14 starts earning over $242,000.
Bred by SA breeders Brenton and Liz Parker, Extremely Lucky is the best of four winners from Tamarind Lane, an unraced half-sister by Stratum to Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap winner Zip Zip Array and Zipanese from the family of multiple Group I winners Niconero and Nicconi with Group I ATC Randwick Guineas winner Communist also on the page.
Tamarind Lane has a weanling colt by Maurice (Jpn) and was covered last spring by Jacquinot.
Extremely Lucky is the fourth stakes-winner this season for Extreme Choice, who heads the Newgate Farm roster at a fee of $275,000.
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