A filly with a pedigree that wouldn’t be out of place on the best tracks in Europe was a surprise debut winner at Scone on Thursday in the Australian Bloodstock colours.
Trained by Kris Lees and ridden by Andrew Gibbons, Too Darn Hot (GB) filly Too Darn Finesse was sent off as a roughie at 20-1 for the 1000m maiden and at the top of the straight it looked like the bookies assessment was on the money.
A funny thing happened at the furlong though when Gibbons gave her a slap with the whip and Too Darn Finesse discovered she had a few more gears she hadn’t tried before.
The filly darted between runners and hit the line hard to win by a neck in the manner of a horse that can win better races.
Too Darn Finesse was bred and sold by Yulong with Australian Bloodstock/Lees Racing finding themselves a bargain at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale where they bid just $80,000 for the filly, whose third dam is 2008 European Horse of the Year Zarkava.
Too Darn Finesse is the second winner from two foals to race from blueblood Aga Khan Studs bred Exceed and Excel import Zerenda (Fr), who was bought by Yulong for $240,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in foal to Too Darn Hot.
Zerenda is a half-sister to imported Australian Group winning stayer Zeyrek (Fr) and also to the dam of this year’s Group I Curragh National Stakes winning 2YO colt Zavateri, so it’s an elite family with a hot and happening rising 3YO on the page.
Unfortunately for Yulong, Zerenda died in 2023 and her last foal is a two year-old colt by Lucky Vega (IRE).
Too Darn Finesses is the tenth winner from 14 runners for Too Darn Hot from daughters of Exceed and Excel and those winners include Group winners Shiki, Tropicus and Fitzella.
It was only a Scone maiden win today, but Too Darn Finesse could ultimately be a very valuable filly going forward.
