RYAN’S BLACK TYPE GOAL NOT EXTREME AT ALL

FOUR TIMES city winner Lady Extreme begins what may be her last campaign at Royal Randwick tomorrow.

And the six-year-old mare’s Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan has set his sights on securing black type with her before the curtain comes down.

Lady Extreme resumes in the Benchmark 94 Handicap (1000m) for what Ryan is hoping will be a lengthy though spaced out preparation, including the Brisbane winter carnival.

Whilst Lady Extreme (Jay Ford) lines up in the closer at Randwick, fellow up and coming Hawkesbury sprinter Mal Coupe (Winona Costin) may not be a rival, with trainer Steve O’Halloran contemplating waiting a week before launching the gelding’s campaign.

Ryan can be particularly proud of his efforts with Lady Extreme, who was destined to start a stud career without racing until owner Luke Wilkinson made a last-minute decision to give the experienced horseman the opportunity to train her.

Now he is keen to secure black type with her, acknowledging this will probably be her final racing fling.

“Lady Extreme is an Extreme Choice mare and rising seven years of age, so this will most likely be it in terms of her racing career,” Ryan said today.

“She has won five races, and four of them have been in town, so getting some black type, even if it is placing, would be additionally valuable from a future breeding viewpoint.

“Lady Extreme is in good order and going well, but it might be asking a bit much to think she could win tomorrow’s race first-up at 1000m.

“It’s like a black type race without the black type.

“I was going to trial her at Hawkesbury recently, but the trials were put off because of the weather, so I decided to go first-up at 1000m.

“Lady Extreme has to start her campaign somewhere, and this looks the most suitable race.

“I’m hoping to give her a lengthy preparation, but spacing her runs.

“There’s the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) for mares at Randwick on March 7, and a number of other features such as the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Golden Slipper day (March 21).”

Ryan, who was hoping for a soft track tomorrow but unlikely to get his favoured surface, says Lady Extreme’s campaign could also be extended to the Brisbane winter carnival and even Grafton’s Ramornie Handicap (1200m) in July, in which she ran well last year.

Whereas Lady Extreme is ready to resume, Steve O’Halloran has delayed a decision on chasing four wins on the bounce with his stable star Mal Coupe, who hasn’t raced since posting a hat-trick at Rosehill in mid-August on heavy ground.

“I also was hoping for some give in the ground for Mal Coupe, and we might wait another week,” O’Halloran said.

“His four wins to date have been on soft and heavy tracks.

“He is going great, and I’m reluctant to kick him off on a firm surface, especially in such a strong race.

“Rain is forecast for next week, and there is a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1000m) at Randwick next Saturday.

“I’ll wait until the morning, but it might be best to keep Mal Coupe for the Midway.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRUARY 6, 2026 - PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS