Media man Anthony Mithen was in his element announcing the retirement of Toorak Toff on Tuesday.  The Group 1 winning chestnut will stand alongside Danzero at Mithen’s Rosemont Stud in Geelong this year.

Rosemont was back in the news on Friday after Danzero front-runner Extra Zero claimed the LR Albury Cup.  The David Hayes-trained gelding atoned for a half-length second to Paddy O’Reilly in the same race a year ago.  Hayes had won his first Albury Cup with Growl in 2010.

Extra Zero (5g Danzero – Extra Bubbly by Bellotto) is a homebred for Bob Bergstrom and his wife Jan who returned to Albury to claim their home-town Cup.  “He’s the third stakes winner from the mare,” Bergstrom declared.  “We could never have imagined that she would produce a black-type winner, let alone three.  It’s like living a dream.”

Extra Bubbly’s first foal to race Johan’s Toy (Johan Cruyff) was credited with Listed wins in the Reginald Allen Hcp at Randwick and Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong.  Renowned for her incredible finishing bursts, she was also runner-up at G1 level in the 2005 Epsom and 2006 Doncaster behind Desert War and Racing To Win.

Operetta Lass (Singspiel) was the next to claim black-type with a G3 inn the 2006 Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick.  Extra Bubbly’s next two foals didn’t meet expectations but the Bergstroms hit the jackpot the following year with Extra Zero.

As a three year-old colt, Extra Zero finished second to Monaco Consul in the G1 Victoria Derby and he returned later that season to win the G2 Autumn Classic at Caulfield.

When he didn’t come up as a spring four year-old, it was recommended that Extra Zero be gelded.  “His world caved in for a while,” Hayes recalled.  “But he picked up last year and has come back well this preparation.”

Extra Bubbly’s three year-old filly Extraceed (Exceed and Excel) was a two time winner at Rosehill last year and the mare has since foaled a Dylan Thomas colt and Duke of Marmalade filly.  The Bergstroms bred her back to Not A Single Doubt last November.

Mithen stands Danzero in association with Arrowfield Stud.  There have been 38 stakes winners to date and they have won a total of 90 black-type races.