Vinery graduate Too Darn Lizzie created history at the Gold Coast on Saturday when she showed precocious speed and a serious will-to-win in the inaugural running of the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut 2yo Fillies (1000m).
The daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB) had become the first Gold Coast yearling by a first-season sire to make seven-figures – since a Sepoy colt in 2015 – when she was offered by Vinery at the 2023 Magic Millions.
Vinery sold her for $1million to agent Johnny McKeever who was acting for Watership Down Stud owner Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and his wife Madeleine. They had raced Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) to Group 1 victories in a Dewhurst Stakes, Prix Jean Prat and Sussex Stakes and share ownership in the Magic Millions winner with Lizzie Spender, wife of the late Barry Humphries.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Too Darn Lizzie started a short-priced favourite and led from the outset for Tim Clark before seeing off the challenge of Froebel Star (Zousain) at the top of the straight.
“We were a bit nervous sending out an odds-on favourite in a race of first-starters but her quality showed through when she was put under pressure and I loved the way she responded through to the line,” Bott said. “She’s a tough filly with plenty of class.
“There’s a lot of upside off the back of today and the trip away will do her the world of good. And we would obviously love to add some black type.
“Too Darn Hot was a phenomenal racehorse in Europe and he’s already making a big impact at stud in Europe and here in Australia. Andrew wanted to support the stallion with us and he did so in a big way paying a million dollars for this filly.”
Her dam Enbihaar (Magnus) won the 2018 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (Gr.2, 1100m) at Caulfield for Sheikh Hamdan and was later sold for $825,000 at the Shadwell Estates Dispersal. She has a yearling colt by I Am Invincible that made $700,000 to Rosemont Stud and Mick Price Racing at the Magic Millions on Thursday and was covered by Too Darn Hot (GB) again in the first week of September.
“The dam had a massive amount of ability and we knew this filly would be given every opportunity with Gai and Adrian,” McKeever said. “Andrew and Madeleine wanted to have a horse in training with them so it’s a lovely, happy coincidence that we all know each other and get on great.”
Too Darn Lizzie was the second-leg of an opening double at the Magic Millions meeting for Vinery even allowing for a degree of separation to Race 1 winner Zoumeteor. The Zoustar gelding had been drawn in barrier 21 before withdrawals but refused to lie down in front to land the $500,000 Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m).
His half-brother by Vinery sire Ole Kirk has been catalogued as Lot 1221 by Baramul Stud during Book 2 of the Magic Millions Sale on Monday, Their Sydney Stakes winning dam Kakakakatie (Zeditave) has foaled nine winners and she delivered another Ole Kirk (filly) in October.
