Story by Dane Squance – Breednet

A dual group winner during the Spring of her 3yo season, talented mare Too Darn Discreet showed an electric turn of foot, charging home over the top of them to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Successful in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) before winning the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) where she defeated eventual Group 1 SA Derby winner Femminile (Dundeel), before failing to run out the trip in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m), the Dan O’Sullivsan trained mare was having just her second start in this time.

An early mix up with the weights saw her originally allocated just 54.5kgs for the race before the discovery had the weight altered to 57kgs, and hence the almost 30/1 starting price.

Settling back in the field under Declan Bates, Too Darn Discreet was getting a lovely run with Hellbent gelding He’ll Rip leading and ensuring a solid tempo.

As the home turn was reached and the field started to pack up, Too Darn Discreet was coming off the heels of the eventual second placegetter Farhh Flung (GB) (Farhh) to come to the outside of the field where she showed an exciting turn of foot to make up many lengths in a short space.

Just as Farhh Flung had secured a run through the field and it looked like the Danny O’Brien trained gelding was going to take the race, Too Darn Discreet gathered him in, recording her fourth win from ten starts and highlighted herself as a possible black type contender in the Spring.

Trainer Dan O’Sullivan felt a little pressure to get the mare back on track, but was clearly happy with the victory post-race.

“We were very pleased with the way she was working at home,” said O’Sullivan.

“We’ll call it controversial, when she was re-handicapped, but it was an error that had to be picked up.

“I’m glad it happened before the race – if we raced around with 54.5kg, we would probably lose the race (through disqualification).

“It was very important for me to get her back winning today, so it’s a really big thrill.”

Bates, like most who watched the race, was impressed with the mare’s turn of foot.

“Fair play to Dan – he’s got her back on track… I was delighted to get back aboard her, I had a bit to do with her early days,” said Bates.

“She has real good ability, she’s had a few issues and Dan’s just took her along nice and quietly and produced her really nicely today.

“She showed a nice turn of foot.”

Bred and part-owned by David Peacock, Too Darn Discreet is a half-sister to stakes-placed, five-time winner Really Discreet (Helmet) and is the fourth winner from as many foals for Shamardal’s Group 1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks winner Maybe Discreet, herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Just Discreet and stakes-placed Always Discreet.

Too Darn Discreet ridden by Declan Bates wins the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale at Flemington Racecourse on August 02, 2025 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)