Extreme choices – B2B decision revisited as $1.7 million colt set to debut in Canonbury Stakes

Ricky Surace Jr recalls the day when an Extreme Choice filly, with bloodlines to be something on the racetrack and a worthy addition to a band of select broodmares off it, went through the sales ring.

It was Magic Millions in 2024. Surace Jr and his B2B Thoroughbreds team had the yearling promoted to their short-list of potential Gold Coast buys.

They liked the pedigree and everything else that goes into making a $400,000 yearling, only to walk away without her.

B2B’s decision to bypass Lot 171 has had contrasting consequences.

As Apocalyptic, the filly who races from Michael Freedman’s Randwick stable has become a poster girl for micro-syndicator MyRacehorse.

In five starts, Apocalyptic has collected three wins and more than $1 million in prize money.

On the eve of autumn racing and the riches that await, the now three-year-old is an obvious pick for more Group 1 honours to sit next to her spring victory in the Flight Stakes.

And, with some irony, she is on an autumn program that will more than likely cross paths with Panova, a Trapeze Artist filly that B2B settled on as a 2024 Magic Millions purchase.

Panova ended her spring in style with stakes wins at Randwick and Flemington and is being directed towards the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes.

Of even fresher significance for B2B will be the debut of Apocalyptic’s brother Hidrix in the Canonbury Stakes on Saturday.

At $1.7 million, he is the most expensive yearling in a Listed contest that serves as a reminder that the $5 million Golden Slipper isn’t too far away.

“It actually makes for an even better little storyline,” Surace Jr says.

“We loved her (Apocalyptic’s) pedigree and she was certainly on our list to buy, but for one reason or another, we didn’t choose to go for her,” he said.

A few months before Hidrix became one of the highlight Lots during the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Apocalyptic had made one appearance at the races for a city placing.

By the time Hidrix was presented for sale, Apocalyptic’s autumn was over before it had time to take off.

Surace Jr says the racing grapevine suggested she had a future, but that intel was not a definitive factor in a plan to make her younger sibling an Easter target.

“We knew she was pretty good. She obviously had a little mishap early, and that’s why she missed her autumn two-year-old career,” he said.

“But even without considering the Apocalyptic angle, he was just a very good-looking horse.

“And as you can imagine, everyone and their dog were on the horse, but for us he was the only colt we fell on.

“We went pretty hard on him, but we did have the backing of some good investors. Obviously, we take a majority (share) of all the colts, but for a price tag like that, you have to sort of spread your risk a little bit compared to fillies.”

Hidrix’s connections include Chris Waller, the trainer’s bloodstock adviser Guy Mulcaster, the stable’s valued assistant Charlie Duckworth and the colt’s breeder Kate Nivison.

Newgate is also involved, completing a dynamic syndicate of leading industry figures, but Surace Jr. says ownership bona fides won’t make Hidrix run any faster than he wants to.

“Naturally, there’s always going to be a lot of interest around those expensive colts, but at the end of the day, we don’t know if they can run,” he said.

“It’s a bit like a car. As soon as you buy an expensive colt, you naturally lose a bit of money, but you get it back 100 times over if they’re successful.

“But if they’re not, then they’re basically worthless.”

Surace and his father Ricky Snr are regulars at Australasia’s leading yearling sales and this week purchased fillies by Satono Aladdin and Proisir for $500,000 and $400,000 respectively.

B2B Thoroughbreds joins Coolmore with twin interests in the Canonbury, a 1100m scamper that doubles as an early Slipper preview without being a historically concrete guide to what lies ahead in less than two months.

Bred by B2B, Written Tycoon colt Written In Munny made $360,000 at Magic Millions.

The breeding operation kept a share and Surace Jr expects the Richard and Will Freedman-trained chestnut to reveal his true ability after having a valid excuse when down the course at his only start.

“He’s a beautiful, imposing colt and hopefully he can get back to that really good trial form,” Surace Jr said.

Three colts – Fine And Dandy (1958), Sebring (2008) and Vancouver (2015) – have completed the Canonbury-Golden Slipper double.

Anticipation will be high that a fourth can join that exclusive club with Hidrix one of three males who cost seven-figures in this year’s edition.

On exposed form, Incognito stands out among the trio as the winner of the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate at his only start.

Incognito shares Golden Slipper favouritism and is an odds-on chance to keep an unbeaten record in the Canonbury.

The latest advertisement for bloodstock agent James Harron’s colts’ partnership approach, Incognito is a $1 million Magic Millions graduate with a deep Golden Slipper connection through his sire and trainer.

He hails from the first crop of Stay Inside, the 2021 Golden Slipper winner for Michael and Richard Freedman.

Michael, who now trains on his own right, has given Incognito two barrier trials to have the colt in the right order for a winning return.

Defensemen, a Wootton Bassett colt with a $1.4 million price tag, resumes as one of two Coolmore runners after a spring introduction to racing produced a Randwick minor placing and midfield effort in the $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill in November.

Another son of Wootton Bassett will also be seen in Coolmore colours with Confederation making his debut and James McDonald doing the riding.

The Canonbury will be run alongside the Group 3 Widden Stakes where the unraced Waller-trained Home Affairs filly Miss Scandal is an early favourite.

Miss Scandal is a Karaka graduate, fetching $360,000 and selling to retired New Zealand businessman Glenn Ritchie, the owner of the 2025 Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy.