The Chris Waller-trained 2YO, HIDRIX, by Extreme Choice and out of SHADOW, produced arguably the most noteworthy performance of any juvenile this season so far and hence firmed into an $8 second favourite with Ladbrokes for the G1 Golden Slipper, to be run at Rosehill on March 21.
Bred by Kate Nivison, Hidrix was purchased by trainer Chris Waller, Guy Mulcaster and Ricky Surace’s B2B Thoroughbreds at last year’s Easter Sale, out of the Coolmore draft.
Nivison, who was in tears at Riverside 10 months ago when the colt (ex Shadow) sold, was stunned with today’s performance.
“I’m a bit in shock, I’m speechless, which is unusual for me,’’ Nivison said.
“But you know what? It’s everything I want. I want to breed proper racehorses and be known for breeding proper racehorses.”
“I don’t give a sh*t about sale ring prices, my job as a breeder is to produce horses that win, that’s all I want to see, so it’s really satisfying to see a colt like this do what he just did on debut in a key 2YO race.’’
Behind the scenes, however, the foundations for Hidrix’s success were laid years earlier.
A full brother to G1 winner Apocalyptic, Hidrix is out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Shadow, a mare carefully identified and secured by Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) principals Bill and James Mitchell on behalf of their client.
“She was a good-looking mare and a sister to a G2-placed two-year-old in Gheist out of Godolphin’s draft,” said James.
“We wanted speed, and although unraced, physically we could see she possessed those attributes. We then bought a nomination to EXTREME CHOICE for Kate, and the rest is history so they say.”
Purchased in foal to Darley’s young-gun stallion HARRY ANGEL, Shadow was sent to Extreme Choice with the return on investment of yearlings at public auction $2.18 million so far.
“This is what I enjoy doing, finding good mares, and it’s satisfying to see Kate get these rewards,” said James, who, only recently purchased the G2 winner FLOOZIE privately as a BM72 horse, relocated her to Queensland with Tony Golan. This move proved fruitful with the daughter of Zoustar out of G1 winner Catchy, winning five races, including two stakes races, before running fifth in the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara.