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).
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
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.
