While it’s evident that 2yo Too Darn Hot filly Tomato Toastie will continue to develop physically as she matures into her next racing campaign, the fact she’s won two of her three starts this time in, clearly highlights her future ability.
Successful last start on a heavy 10 rated track over 1200m, there was plenty against the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly as she jumped to 1400m on an improving soft rated track in the first of the day at Randwick on Saturday.
One of two in the race for Hunter Valley based property Ridgmont, it was the farm's other runner Pillow Fight (Zoustar) who took up the running in the race as Tomato Toastie settled in second, with race favourite Crossbow (Better Than Ready), who had finished second at his most recent start behind Central Coast (Wootton Bassett), tracking along in fourth.
Appearing to get a soft lead, Pillow Fight increased the tempo leading into the home straight, but once the challenges came, she appeared the first beaten, dropping back along the rail as Tomato Toastie and Chris Waller’s Kokatahi (NZ) (Farnan) came up on her outside to make a challenge.
As Crossbow was still searching for a run behind the tiring Pillow Fight, Regan Bayliss aboard Tomato Toastie took the opportunity to extend her lead, before holding off the late charge of Crossbow to win the race narrowly and record consecutive victories.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott was on track, highlighting that the filly had done everything asked of her to date and would now go for a spell.
“Really tough win and tough effort after a relatively quick turnaround, a quick backup off a heavy 10 track and coming to a nice sort of testing trip here early in her career,” stated Bott.
“She was out on her feet late. She's not an overly big filly, but she's got a stack of improvement to come.”
“She's got a nice turn of foot and Regan just wanted to give her every opportunity and every chance to see out that trip today.”
“She was challenged there and it was great to see her fight in the manner in which she did. She's all in all had a terrific first preparation."
“I'm delighted for the Cunningham’s and everyone involved with her to give us the opportunity to train such a beautifully bred filly. I'm sure there's a lot of upside to come.”
“She'll go for well-deserved break. She's got some lovely maturing to do, but she's going out on a great note now with back-to-back wins, and there's a lot to look forward to.”
Riding the filly on race day for the first time on Saturday, Bayliss was also suitably impressed with Tomato Toastie.
“She's just surprised everyone a little bit,” said Bayliss.
“We always thought she might be, which she will be, better next preparation once she sort of fills out a bit, but she's tough and tenacious, and not only did she win on the heavy track over six furlongs the other day, but she's backed it up on a better track over 1,400m today in quite a smart field.”
“I would have been happy to take it up, but Rachel sort of pushed forward to lead, and my filly just relaxed so well for me, and we got a little bit of a breather mid-race, and she was very tough through the line.”
Consigned by Segenhoe Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling sale on behalf of breeder Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Tomato Toastie is out of the stakes-placed Redoute’s Choice mare Al Nafia, herself a daughter of Group 2-winning Anabaa mare Court.
Tomato Toastie’s dam is a half-sister to Encosta de Lago’s Champion 2yo and 3yo Filly English, a winner of the Group 1 ATC All Aged Stakes and the Group 1 BRC Doomben 10,000 for breeder/owners Newhaven Park, who was also trained by Gai Waterhouse.
The third winner from as many runners out of Al Nafia, Tomato Toastie was secured at the sale by Cunningham Thoroughbreds and Clarke Bloodstock, and after her consecutive wins, has already earned back more than her $140,000 purchase price.
One of 12 individual Australian 2yo winners this season from 29 runners headed by the Group 2 ATC Skyline Stakes winner Rivellino, Too Darn Hot is the sire of 24 international stakes winners highlighted locally by multiple Group 1 winner Broadsiding who has retired to stand his first season at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST) alongside his sire, who will command a fee of $275,000 (inc. GST).
