Spring Contender Too Darn Discreet Wins Heatherlie Stakes

Aug 30, 2025

Story by Dane Squance – Breednet.com

Recording her third black type victory, talented Too Darn Hot mare Too Darn Discreet appears to be on track for further spring riches after winning the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield for trainer Dan O’Sullivan.

A winner two starts back before going down narrowly last start behind El Rocko, the 4yo mare turned the tables on the John McCardle trained son of Fastnet Rock, darting back along the inside of the track to get up to score an impressive race win.

El Rocko was in front for most of the straight and it looked as if he would hold on, but alas it was not meant to be.

Resuming from a spell, last season’s Group 1 SAJC Derby runner-up Statuario (D’Argento) surely would have pleased connections with his first up run, finishing in third.

Having come from closer to the tail of the field in her last two starts, O’Sullivan was surprised to see Too Darn Discreet so close to the action early on.

“She was a bit closer than what I thought she’d be, but she landed there naturally and he knows her pretty well,” stated O’Sullivan.

“The tempo was on and she was a bit flat-footed around the turn and I thought, again, a bit like last week, we’re going to run a nice second or third.

“But, again, like two weeks ago, we got in the line, she really knuckled down and hit the line strong. Got to see her get back in there for a most deserved win at Listed level.”

“Going forward, I’m thinking next time she’ll be having a couple of away trials to spark her up and get her interested in the racing because she showed no interest. In saying that, she was OK through the line.

As for where to go now that she has added another black type victory to her record, O’Sullivan felt speaking to jockey Declan Bates would give a clearer picture.

“I’ll have a chat to Declan about it because she’s hitting the line like she’s ready for 2000 metres.

“The jury’s a little bit out there but I’ll enjoy the win first and go home and think about that later on.”

Winning jockey Declan Bates was impressed with how well the mare is going this time in.

“Dan just has her absolutely flying this prep, so I’m really lucky to be on board again,” said Bates.

“She had to dig deep today. Jett (Stanley, El Rocko) tried to steal it again, he kicked off the bend and he had me in trouble actually. At the 400 I thought, ‘I’m just going to run a place here’, I was just trying to help her build through her gears here.

“She can always lay in a touch, so it’s just about managing her around the bend, but I knew she was always going to be strong late, but I thought Jett might have nicked it, but she the further we went, she really kicked in late to go do a good job to get there.

When Bates was quizzed on he feels the mare might be suited next, he highlighted the bigger Flemington track as a possible aim.

“I’d love to get her back to Flemington. She’s run really well here her last two stars, but I take her think Flemington suits her because she does just take that while to build in the straight.

“I think the mile, this sort of distance today, 1700 today, is actually really good for her because she does have that nice turn of foot when she can use it.

“She couldn’t quite use it today, she just took a little while to get around to bend, but I’ll leave it to Dan. She’s proven at 2000, so if he wants to go that way, by all means do that, but I’ actually like her at the mile if there’s a race at Flemington.”

Too Darn Discreet ridden by Declan Bates wins the Tile Importer Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on August 30, 2025 in Caulfield, Australia. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

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