Volkano (AUS)
2 g Too Darn Hot – Volks Lightning by Volksraad
O: MyRacehorse No 1 (Mgr: B K Willis), S M George, A Guoga, N S Psaltis, Mrs G C Psaltis & Peake Racing (Mgr: P N Edwards)
B: Simon Raleigh
T: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
S: 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Bell River Thoroughbreds P: MyRacehorse Pty Ltd / McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA), $425,000
W: Manhari Maiden Plate, 1200m, July 8, Ballarat Synthetic
Debutant Volkano (Too Darn Hot) turned heads at the Ballarat Synthetic meeting on Tuesday when the juvenile gelding produced an explosive victory in a 1200-metre maiden on the card.
By Darley’s shuttle sensation Too Darn Hot (Dubawi), the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained juvenile was sent out as the odds-on favourite and justified the support, defeating Costalotta (Prince Of Caviar) by 4.5 lengths under Harry Coffey.
There was a further 1.3 lengths back to the third-placed Succaforyou (Hanseatic).
“He won well didn’t he,” Calvin McEvoy said.
“You know, we always have a few reservations over first starters and he did look a bit woolly in the yard like there was plenty more to come, but thankfully his ability got him over the line.
“He’s a very well-bred horse and we paid a little bit of money for him, but his pedigree was huge and it’s great for all the owners that have come out today.”
Volkano carries the MyRacehorse colours having been purchased by the syndictor alongside McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock from the Bell River Thoroughbreds draft for $425,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
McEvoy said gelding the youngster ahead of his debut proved the right call.
“As a colt he tried to jump through the gates here in a trial and then wanted to pull himself up, so unfortunately we had to geld him, which is hard to do with a well-bred colt, but it can be the making of them.”
Volkano is the first foal out of the Group 3-winning and Group 1-placed Volksraad (Green Desert) mare Volks Lightning.
Too Darn Hot returns to Darley’s Kelvinside base this spring, standing at a fee of $275,000 (inc GST).