Extreme Choice Colt Tops Day 2 of Gold Coast Sale

Yulong Investments claimed the most sought-after offering on Day 2 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Jan. 14 when Zhang Yuesheng's outfit bid AU$2 million (US$1,334,840, AU$1=US$0.67) for a well-related son (Lot 345) of sire sensation Extreme Choice (AUS). That price equaled the figure Coolmore's Tom Magnier paid for Day 1's session-topping son of Frankel (GB). Agent James Harron was consigned to the role of underbidder, while teams from Te Akau Racing and Newgate Farm were also involved in the protracted seven-figure tussle. The colt, who was offered by Matthew Sandblom's Kingstar Farm, is a sibling to three winners, most notably his full sister Wollombi. The Yulong-owned daughter of Extreme Choice enjoyed her biggest result when landing the 2023 Vanity (G3). "He's one of the most special colts in the whole sale, especially today, and he's the only target we definitely needed to buy," said Jun Zhang, Yulong's general manager. "We can see some stallion potential in him, and we own the sister as well. She's in foal to Diatonic, so we're trying to create our own family. This is another reason why we had to get him. Extreme Choice is a very successful stallion and could be an important stallion in the future, which is why we are trying to get into the bloodline." Despite subfertility preventing Newgate's Extreme Choice from fielding big numbers, he has still punched out a high concentration of significant talents. He is the sire of six group 1 winners, including Devil Night (AUS) and 2021 Golden Slipper (G1) winner turned Newgate stallion Stay Inside (AUS), both of whom were bred by Kingstar Farm. His 25 black-type performers mean he is operating at an impressive stakes horses-to-runners ratio of 17%. Yulong is among those who have enjoyed elite-level success with the stallion as Devil Night claimed last year's Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) in the familiar green and white silks. Devil Night was bought by Yulong for AU$1.4 million at the 2024 edition of the Gold Coast sale, Kingstar's previous best result in a sales ring. Extreme Choice's previous record was provided when Chris Waller, Guy Mulcaster, and B2B Thoroughbreds paid AU$1.7 million for the brother to group 1 winner Apocalyptic (AUS) at last year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. "It's very rewarding because a lot goes into getting this horse here," said an emotional Adam Cook, manager of Kingstar Farm. "A lot has to go right, especially with a son of Extreme Choice. You've got to get the mare in foal, and then she's got to have a nice foal. Fortunately, all the stars and moons aligned with her, and this horse got here safe and sound. "It's been a very nerve-wracking three months, and the guys at the farm have made sure everything's gone right to ease my nerves and stresses as such as they could. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions getting this horse to here." Cook added: "It's impossible to get a full relation to a group winner by Extreme Choice. He's the best son of Extreme Choice that we've bred, and we bred Stay Inside and Devil Night. Although this fella might not be here for the Magic Millions (race meeting) this time next year, I can't wait to see him as a later 2-year-old. I think he'll be an awesome 3-year-old; he has strength, scope, and a beautiful stallion's head. Everything was just right with him, and I guess that's reflected in the price." At the sale so far, 326 yearlings found a new home at a clearance rate of 83%. In turn, the aggregate stands at AU$93.975 million (US$62,720,791) (down 3.5% year on year), the average price closed at AU$288,266 (US$192,394) (up 4%), while the median was identical to the same point in the sale 12 months ago at AU$200,000 (US$133,484). "A very, very strong day's trade, I thought," Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said. "I thought it felt deep, genuine, diverse—and fun. There was a lot of vibe to it. It was what we like to create here at Magic Millions. It was a busy day; it had a bit of everything. All in all, we're delighted with how today went. "There's solid trade being done under the median, and that's holding solid at AU$200,000. We're thinking we're tracking well through the middle market. The feel is that the sale continues to build momentum." The Gold Coast Yearling Sale continues Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. local time.