Extreme Choice colt Paradoxium was one of the best 2YO colts last season showing flashes of real brilliance despite some setbacks along the way combined with bad barriers, but he put all of that behind him on Saturday with a winning return in the Group III VRC Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.
Yulong acquired a majority stake in the Bjorn Baker trained colt after the Golden Slipper and he stepped out in their colours with Jason Collett to ride.
With two good trials under his belt in Sydney, Paradoxium was ready to go with the only real query his lack of experience up the straight, but he quickly answered that question.
Paradoxium jumped well and went forward, travelling sweetly all the way before giving a good kick to win by a length over Mbube and Big Sky with both of those colts going into this race undefeated.
Bjorn Baker was confident going into the race and has plans to go to the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes which he won in 2023 with Zoustar colt Ozzmosis, who is now at stud.
"That's exciting seeing a beautiful colt like that. He's got a great attitude and a great action. Speaking pre-race, I did everything but declare him,” he said.
"Jason knows this guy very well. We were able to get a good jump-out into him down the back straight at Warwick Farm and I've had a remarkable run in these straight races at Flemington.
“I love coming down here and I thought he was a good chance. He was very good and he had to carry a little bit more weight than the others as well.
“Hopefully we can get back here for the Coolmore (G1). He reminded me a bit of Ozzmosis half-way through that run. You dream, and you dream big."
Paradoxium was a $400,000 Magic Millions purchase from Silverdale Farm for Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)/Ridgmont and has the overall record of three wins from six starts with prizemoney topping $446,000.
Bred by Grant Bloodstock in partnership, he is the first foal of stakes-placed Better Than Ready mare Paredo.
She is a half-sister to stakes-placed Snipzu, the dam of Group I placed colt Don Corleone, who is also by Paradoxium’s sire Extreme Choice.
Another close relation is Group I winner Private Harry, who is now at stud, while Perth stakes-winner Hot and High also appears in the pedigree of an old family that is enjoying somewhat of a resurgence.
Purchased from the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in 2023 by Silverdale Farm for $475,000, Paredo has a 2YO filly by Zoustar that sold to Yulong at Inglis Easter this year for $1.1million and produced a filly last spring by I Am invincible.
Paredo is due to foal to Zoustar this spring.
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