The Justine Erkelens trained Too Dardy passed a tough test when he took out the $100 000 Blue Spec Stakes over 1650m at Belmont in style.
The seven-year-old, who jumped at a starting price of $9 with online betting sites, was stepping out beyond 1400m for the first time and the son of Demerit, quite literally, took it all in his stride to see off the challenge of two outsiders, Outspoken Lad ($21) and Currimundi ($41) with the strong $2.40 favourite finishing fourth in a busy finish.
Too Dardy does it again! The talented gelding made it back-to-back race wins with victory in the Blue Spec Stakes. pic.twitter.com/B9gPBgtSX7
— Racing WA TV (@RacingWATV) August 15, 2026
Too Dardy had won his previous start in the $100 000 Jockey Celebration Day Stakes over 1400m, with that race also being a step up from the 1200m trip he had raced over in his two starts prior to that … so the progressive step up in distance is working well for the Erkelens trained runner.
Shaun O’Donnell settled Too Dardy in fourth place in the first half of the race, some four lengths off the lead, before taking Too Dardy into a more forward position approaching the home and setting his mount up, now just two lengths off the lead, so that he was perfectly poised to strike on straightening.
From there, Too Dardy accelerated and took over at the head of affairs with 200m left to run and he remained strong all the way to the line, holding off a wall of horses who, as it turned out, were only fighting out the minor placings.
It was a comfortable win in the end with Too Dardy getting home, for his sixth career win, by a 1.44 length winning margin.
