It is usually Tulloch Lodge-trained horses that run their rivals ragged, but this time it is Chris Waller who has produced a late-season gem in flying filly Extremely Hardys.
Making her debut at Canterbury on Wednesday, the $300,000 buy defied the usually patient tactics for Waller first starters, leading and extending in the straight in a display of sustained speed.
Fittingly, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s go-to jockey Tim Clark was in the saddle and was suitably impressed by the professionalism of the daughter of Extreme Choice.
Renowned as an outstanding judge of pace, Clark rated Extremely Hardys beautifully in front, although he admitted she might have tracked a straighter course in the straight had he not pulled the whip.
“Two hands for beginners,” Clark quipped.
“She was the ultimate professional. She knew what she was here to do and she made it look pretty easy.”
Extremely Hardys ($4.60) made a one-act affair of the Dundeel At Arrowfield Plate (1200m), gapping nearest rival Cinsault ($2.40 fav) by six lengths with Rowena ($26) third.
Waller’s stable representative Charlie Duckworth said they were expecting a competitive performance but didn’t count on her being quite so brilliant.
“She was quick into stride then stacked and racked them, a typical Timmy Clark special,” Duckworth said.
“She obviously has a nice future ahead of her.
“I did think she would be quite hard to beat with the rail out six (metres) and her tactical speed and the way she was going to be ridden.
“But I don’t think anyone expects a horse to win like that on debut.”
Extremely Hardys gave Waller the first leg of a midweek treble, the leading trainer adding wins with Autumnmation ($3.90) in the Paulele @ Darley Handicap (1550m) and Llanddwyn ($6) in the Precise Air Handicap (1250m).
Extremely Hardys bolts in! Some performance to take out Race 1 at Canterbury. @Cwallerracing @clarkyhk pic.twitter.com/fyMtcIPYLc
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 3, 2024
