Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Extreme Taste Ipswich hopes are high for Barry Lockwood as his filly chases a first career win in the Ipswich Party Hire Fillies and Mares Maiden over 1200m on Wednesday.
The three-start maiden resumes second-up after finishing third at Doomben over 1110m on May 24, with Lockwood confident she is ready to win if barrier nine does not leave her posted too wide.
The Ipswich test comes as Queensland racing plans build elsewhere, with Music Time targeting The Kosciuszko after a Golden Rose plan was shelved.
Lockwood Confident Despite Wide Draw
Lockwood initially played down the story around Extreme Taste, noting she “hasn’t won yet,” but his confidence grew when assessing her last run and Wednesday’s set-up.
“The only thing that will stop her is the wide gate,” Lockwood stated. “She’s ready to win but just needs a bit of luck and I think it was a bit of pilot error as the rider gave away the run to the winner. Going four-deep on the corner and staying there didn’t help. She did a lot of work and the wider the rail is and the wider you are, the worse it gets.”
Extreme Taste is now the $2.80 favourite, showing that the market has also taken notice of her Doomben effort.
Benjamin Osmond, who claims two kilos, will ride after Damien Boche was sidelined by an injury from a fall at Gold Coast.
“If she gets a nice run from the barrier, she’ll be very hard to beat,” veteran trainer Lockwood added.
Pedigree Points To Progress
Extreme Taste is by Extreme Choice and out of the American-bred mare Leamington.
Her pedigree offers encouragement, with five of her seven siblings having recorded multiple wins.
That background adds weight to the belief that a maiden win may not be far away, provided she gets cover and rhythm from the draw.
Lockwood is also enjoying his training partnership with Emma-Jane Vincent, which was formalised late last year.
Official race fields and results are available through Racing Queensland.
