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.
Harry Coffey had the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly travelling strongly behind the pace set by Mishani Crown and Moulin Miss.
Set down to an all-out drive on straightening, Arabian Summer hit the line strongly to defeat Mishani Crown (Love Conquers All) by two and a quarter lengths with the Spirit Of Boom debutant Moulin Miss back in third.
Carrying a 2kg penalty, Arabian Summer placed in the Listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield and Group III Ottawa Stakes at Flemington before breaking her maiden with a three-and-a-half length romp in the Magic Millions Ballarat 2yo Classic on December 9.
That form was franked when the runner-up Parkour (Extreme Choice) was an impressive winner at Randwick at her following start.
Carrying the colours of Frank and Christine Cook, Arabian Summer races for a syndicate that includes her breeder, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
“She looks very professional. We came up by road and Tony drove them himself,” Calvin McEvoy revealed.
“It is a big trip from Melbourne but this filly, she’s so professional and we thought she’d be nice and fresh today.
“I love the way she relaxed for Harry, ‘got a bum’ and was exposed late.
“We just left it up to Harry. She’s a fast filly and was very fresh out the back. She’s spent three of the last eight days in a float, so typically, they’ll normally be fresh, so we left it up to him.
“She had speed, and I thought it couldn’t have worked out any better.
“We thought ‘is she just a 1000-metre horse?’ but she was very strong at the end of 1100 there and on the back-up, I really do think she’ll run out the 1200m.”
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 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.
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 (lot 914).
Darley Stud’s triple Group 1 winner, Too Darn Hot (GB) is of to a fast start with three winners from five runners.
