The Group II Tab Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington was run in appalling conditions, but there's little doubt the winner, Too Darn Discreet, is a filly going places.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for Dan O'Sullivan, the daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB) emerged from the gloom to defeat the Snitzel filly Declichy Boulevard by three-quarters of a length the Too Darn Hot (GB) filly Killcare Beachgirl, a long neck back in third.
Emulating the deeds of her dam, the 2012 Edward Manifold Stakes winner Maybe Discreet (Shamardal), Too Darn Discreet advances her record to two wins and a second from five starts with earnings of $251,825.
"They're pretty big shoes to fill," O'Sullivan noted.
"it was a great ride in the very trying circumstances by Mark. He was keen to ride her because he liked what he'd seen last start.
"He (Zahra) got that three-ride line and executed perfectly today.
"It's a little bit tricky now whether you go on - do you try and create an Oaks filly, or do you keep her fresh?
"She's still a pretty immature filly, whether the Oaks comes up too quick as a spring three-year-old, but we'll enjoy today.
"She's very tough, which she showed me when I gave her a tough trial. She just bounced through that, so I've got no fear that she'll come out of this really well, too.
"She was quite a handful as a young horse. She's quite an intelligent filly. If she doesn't want to do something, she doesn't want to do it, so when the rain came I was a little bit nervous that she could just come out and dig the toes in.
"You've seen a couple of her runs here at Moonee Valley and at Caulfield; she got a long way back and just didn't feel like going, but she just seems to be getting her head around it now."
Bred and part-owned by David Peacock, Too Darn Discreet is a half-sister to stakes-placed, 5-time winner Really Discreet (Helmet) and is the fourth winner from as many foals for the Shamardal mare Maybe Discreet.
A half-sister to Group III winner Just Discreet and stakes-placed Always Discreet, Maybe Discreet's four stakes wins were highlighted by the Group 1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks.
Maybe Discreet has a yearling brother to Too Darn Discreet and slipped to Ghaiyyath (IRE) last year.
Too Darn Discreet is the 15th stakes-winner for Darley Stud's Too Darn Hot (GB).
