The $2million Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) looked an open affair on paper with the potential for an up and comer to take the prize and so it unfolded with the most expensive yearling purchase in the race delivering victory for Yulong as a maiden at just his second start.
Purchased for $1.4million from the Kingstar Farm draft at Magic Millions, Extreme Choice colt Devil Night was the most expensive of seven yearlings Yulong purchased at that sale, although he was not the highest priced for his sire.
2024 was the year when the big buyers went mad on Extreme Choice and he had 14 average $667,500 at the Gold Coast with colts from Wanted Lady and Euroboss selling for $1.6million and $1.45 million with Devil Night the next best. As a comparison his 12 Magic Millions yearlings this year sold at an average $478,333 with nothing selling for seven figures, so quite a difference.
Yulong spread their horses across a wide range of trainers and Team Hawkes were given Devil Night and they resisted the temptation to produce him last spring, so he first appeared to win a barrier trial in December.
Another quiet trial followed last month and then they pitched him straight into the deep end in the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude where he beat all bar Field of Play to go down by half a length.
With Mick Dee to ride and barrier two, Devil Night had a few things in his favour for the Blue Diamond, but you still have to deliver and the little chestnut pulled out plenty under pressure to hold off the late challenge of Godolphin’s Street Boss (USA) colt Tentyris to win by a head. Written Tycoon colt Tycoon Star was a gallant third and this Yulong bred and sold colt was also in the their colours as they retained an interest after his sale to Lindsay Park Racing.
Devil Night was able to emulate the success of his sire Extreme Choice, who won the Blue Diamond in 2016 at his third start.
Mick Dee was having his first ride on Devil Night and was impressed with the colt’s ability to find when it counted as the race did not go exactly to plan.
"It unfolded a little bit differently than I anticipated. I thought there would be a little more pressure than that. I ended up outside the leader, basically by default. He was a little bit keen, travelled a little bit strong and he fought on well. Luckily he did,” said Dee.
"He gave a really good kick when I asked the question and really took off and got that winning edge. It was a credit to him. He was tough. We didn't want it to much further. It would have been good if he could come back a little and relax, especially with cover, he would be better. He was too good."
Wayne Hawkes revealed the stable believed he could win despite his lack of experience.
"I thought he'd be in the first four or five and I said to Mick [Dee], 'don't overcomplicate it, he's a lovely horse',” said Wayne Hawkes.
“He's never been on him, but he's a lovely horse. He does everything right, he's improved out of sight from his run the other day.
“I know it's easy to say after the race, but you can ask Vin [Cox] what I said to him. I said, 'mate, off his track work, he just wins on Saturday but he's in a Blue Diamond, so I'm not getting too cocky. In a normal race he'd just win.
"I've got to thank Yulong [Stud]. They've only got five horses with us. It's a great effort and you know what, I just love doing that with the big colts."
Devil Night is a Group I winner at his second start and follows somewhat in the footsteps of another maiden colt to win the race in Pride of Dubai, who won it at his third start and then added the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes to his record for good measure before going on the become a G1 producing sire.
Devil Night was bred and sold by Kingstar Farm and is a half-brother to Group III winner Our Playboy being the third winner from four foals to race from unraced Shamardal (USA) mare Mischief Night, a half-sister to Group I winner Pierata and Group III winner Ashokan from Group III winner November Flight.
Mischief Night joined the broodmare band at Kingstar Farm after being purchased for $200,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She has no yearling for the sales this year, but did have a colt last spring by Stay Inside and was covered by Extreme Choice in December.
Kingstar Farm have a great record with Extreme Choice as they also bred and sold his Golden Slipper winning son Stay Inside.
Devil Night is the 14th stakes-winner and fifth Group I winner for Newgate Farm’s fertility challenged super sire Extreme Choice, who has three entries for Inglis Premier and 13 for Inglis Easter.
