Lady Extreme was almost retired before she’d raced, but a last-minute change of heart has seen her become a five-time winner with over $270,000 in prizemoney.

Originally bound for the breeding barn, trainer Blake Ryan was asked to temporarily house the mare by owner-breeder Luke Wilkinson—until a phone call changed her fate.

“Luke rang me at ten o’clock on Monday morning and said, ‘do you want to have a crack with that mare? No expectations’,” Ryan said.

Now a stable star at Hawkesbury, Lady Extreme lines up in the Congratulations James McDonald Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday, stepping up to 1400m on a heavy track with 60.5kg topweight.

“She goes out there and gives 110 per cent every time,” Ryan said.

While her prep has already been strong, Ryan is undecided whether to continue or spell her after Saturday.

With 35 boxes and a growing team, Ryan is hopeful Lady Extreme’s success can attract more quality horses.

“You get one winner on a Saturday and you get forty [texts],” he said.