Too Darn Hot's Arabian Summer in a class of her own in Ballarat 2yo Classic

Mark Smith - Saturday December 9

Following placings in the Group III Ottawa Stakes and Listed Debutant Stakes, the Too Darn Hot (GB) filly Arabian Summer put the field to the sword in Saturday’s $250,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 2yo Classic (1000m).

Very impressive (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Harry Coffey for Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Arabian Summer led at every call to defeat Godolphin’s $600,000 Extreme Choice colt Parkour by three and a half lengths, with the Shalaa (IRE) colt Vianarra a neck back in third.

Advertisement

Carrying the colours of Frank and Christine Cook, Arabian Summer races for a syndicate that includes her breeder, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

A $220,000 purchase for McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA), from the Coolmore Stud draft in Book 2 of the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Arabian Summer is likely to head to the Gold Coast in January with a favourites chance in the $3,000,000 Magic Millions 2yo Classic.

Tony McEvoy credited his son Calvin for finding the daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB) deep into Book 2.

“I’ve got to take my hat off to him,” Tony McEvoy said.

“He came to me and said, ‘Dad, we’ve got to look at this one in book two’. I said we’ve got enough on our list, so he forced me to come and have a look. She just looked like a pocket rocket, and I thought we’d steal this one. Unfortunately, many people found her and we had to pay $220,000 for her, but I’m so pleased we did. “She’s a really nice filly with two Stakes placings and a rich race today. I’m really proud of her.

“I think having the benefit of having those two hard runs in Listed grade held her in really good stead. Dropping in grade, walking over the road, on our home deck, she really impressed me today. It’s going to be a hard race to weigh up what level it is, but it’s worth a lot of money, and she was super impressive.

Happy days (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

“We’ve got to decide now on whether to go north. She’s so professional, and the Gold Coast suits horses that race like her. We’ll enjoy today; let the dust settle and see what happens.”

Arabian Summer is the first winner from three runners for the talented Street Cry (IRE) mare Maraam.

A winner at Gosford and twice a winner at Canterbury Maraam is a half-sister to Group II ATC Arrowfield 3YO Sprint Stakes winner Derryn (Hinchinbook), who was third in the Group 1 Doomben 10000 and now stands at Grangewilliam Stud in New Zealand.

Arabian Summer a $220,000 Magic Millions yearling

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum purchased Maraam for $1,050,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale after Segenhoe had pinhooked her for $280,000 at the 2013 National Weanling Sale.

Coolmore offers a Wootton Bassett (GB) half-sister to Arabian Summer at the Magic Millions in January (lot 914).

It’s been a good week for Darley Stud’s triple Group 1 winner, Too Darn Hot (GB). The son of Dubawi posted his first Australian winner on Thursday when Climate Change made a winning debut at Geelong. 

Like the family? Not short on choice.

Advertisment

Race Result - Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic 1000m

Ballarat Track: Soft(5) Time: 0:58.37
1
Arabian Summer
- 2f Too Darn Hot (GB) x Maraam (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: H Coffey 56
2
3.5
Parkour
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x Trestrail (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 58
3
3.8
Vianarra
- 2c Shalaa (IRE) x Vinavion (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: John Allen 58
4
5.1
Invincible Beau
- 2c Brazen Beau (AUS) x Rose Pattern (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: R E Laing Rdr: J Mott 58
5
5.8
Macocha
- 2f Street Boss (USA) x Bright Abyss (USA) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: M Aitken 56
6
6.8
Heinous
- 2f Brutal (NZ) x Nais Ko (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56
7
7.6
Power Of Three
- 2f Yes Yes Yes (AUS) x Excellent Magic (GB) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: M J Dee 56
8
9.3
Broken Promises
- 2f All Too Hard (AUS) x The Promise (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: L Kennewell & L Yeomans Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
9
12.8
Shadeelaa
- 2c Shalaa (IRE) x Whatadeel (AUS) (Dundeel (NZ))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
10
13.6
Dun Wondering
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Allez Wonder (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Declan Bates 58
More Reading...
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Another Rich Prize for Too Darn Hot Filly Arabian Summer
Honest filly Arabian Summer all but ensured her sire Too Darn Hot (GB) Champion First Season Sire honours with a hard-fought win in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Magic Millions National 2yo Classic (1050m) at Doomben.
Stakes Double For Too Darn Hot with Arabian Summer
Ninety minutes after producing season stakes winner seven, the red hot Too Darn Hot delivered number eight, when super consistent Arabian Summer took the Group III Peter Le Grand Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Arabian Summer confirmed for $3m TAB Magic Millions Sunlight
The build up to January's The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival is in full swing with today's announcement of the first confirmed runner being locked in for the $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m) on Saturday January 4
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
Arabian Summer in a Class of Her Own in Aquis Pearl
The classy Too Darn Hot (GB) filly Arabian Summer staked her claim for next week's $3,000,000 Magic Millions 2yo Classic with a dominant performance in the $150,000 Aquis Gold Pearl (1100m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
Bonny Grey Mare Wins G3 Strickland
Last December at Ascot, popular grey mare Admiration Express (My Admiration) nearly caused the upset result of the year when she charged home at odds of 100/1 in the G1 Northerly Stakes for second behind Victorian raider Light Infantry Man.