The term 'baptism of fire' could sum up Extreme Choice's first foray into Australia's top sprinting ranks in Friday night's Group I Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
Superstars Chautauqua and Buffering along with Group I-winning sprinters Lucky Hussler and The Quarterback await Extreme Choice in his first run outside two-year-old grade in the $500,000 event.
Trainer Mick Price gave Extreme Choice another practice run on the Moonee Valley circuit on Monday morning but the Caulfield-based horseman knows the colt's true test will come in the early stages of the Moir Stakes.
"He's a spring three-year-old coming out of his two-year-old year in the Moir but he probably needs to draw a gate and have a bit of luck in the race but there will be a hot speed," Price said.
"Hopefully we don't have to get involved in that hot speed part of it but he has a nice run in the race and can finish off but I'm under no illusions about how tough the race is for him against the older weight-for-age horses.
"I'm thinking we'll come back a couple of lengths because you've got to finish off at Moonee Valley don't you?"
Price said Extreme Choice has put on more than 30kg during a spell that began after his midfield effort in the Golden Slipper in April, which followed a win in the Blue Diamond Stakes on his home track in February.
"He's definitely made a physical progression so we've got to measure what he did as a two-year-old against these older horses now," Price said.
"I think he's come up well. He's sound, he's a beautiful horse and a problem-free colt so it's a just of matter of on the night how he copes with the pressure."
Price said Extreme Choice would drop back to race against his own age in the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield and the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in the other two runs of his spring preparation.
Craig Newitt was aboard Extreme Choice at Moonee Valley and will ride the colt in the Moir Stakes.
