Darling View Thoroughbreds-bred graduate Luana Miss raced her way into calculations for next month’s RL Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) with an outstanding debut at Ascot on Saturday.

Luana Miss (2f Bivouac – Little Bit Ditsy by Bel Esprit) was backed into favouritism first-up off an eye-catching Belmont barrier trial win and she extended with a decisive turn of foot to defeat Baby Pearl (Rommel) in the $80,000 Magic Millions Plate (1000m).

“She’s a special filly and the Magic Millions is the target,” trainer Trevor Andrews said.  “She’s shown us ability at home and her work has been super since that trial which was a month ago.  She was on edge today and was a bit reluctant to leave the mounting yard but there’s plenty of upside and she’s got a motor.”

Set down for February 15 at Pinjarra, the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) is worth $250,000 and any black-type will be invaluable as a broodmare prospect for a large syndicate of successful owners that includes Darling View.  She changed hands for $110,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions Sale and yesterday’s win was worth $65,840 including a Westspeed Bonus of $22,000.

It nearly turned into a disaster for jockey Shaun O’Donnell when he was forced to bail out after she half-reared in the enclosure.  “But she was perfect going down to the start and behaved behind the barriers,” he said.  “She was in the gates for ages with the other babies but jumped well and we got a good sit on the leader.

“She’s green but I really liked the way she went straight once in front instead of darting left and right like she did in the trial.  She’s an exciting filly.”

Luana Miss is the first Australian winner sired by Bivouac (Exceed And Excel).  Darling View had purchased her dam Little Bit Ditsy (Bel Esprit) in foal to the Darley stallion for $160,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The mare won three races in Brisbane and earned black-type when placed in the LR Princess Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm in 2014.  She’s a half-sister to Vienna Miss (LR Adelaide Guineas) and the dam of Gangbuster (LR Lex Piper Stakes) and Let It Slip (LR Placid Ark Stakes).

Little Bit Ditsy has a Farnan filly catalogued as Lot 75 by Darling View at the Perth Magic Millions next month.  Darling View has entered 28 yearlings for the Swan Valley Sale including 10 by its champion sire Playing God.