Too Darn Hot far too good for rivals in Sandown Solario Stakes romp and he shot to the top of the market for next year’s Derby
Frankie Dettori and John Gosden again teamed up for the win in the big race
TOO DARN HOT was just too darn good in the 188Bet Solario Stakes.
He leapt to the head of the ante-post betting for BOTH the 2000 Guineas and the Derby after destroying his Sandown rivals by four lengths under Frankie Dettori.
It was another top-class prospect to win the Group 3 contest for John Gosden. Star miler Kingman and Breeders’ Cup her Raven’s Pass had both landed the Solario for the Newmarket trainer before going on to Group 1 glory the following year.
Godolphin’s Derby winner Masar – successful 12 months ago - didn’t turn out too bad, either.
This time, for Dettori, it was a game of happy families.
He said: “I rode most of the family – Dubawi, Dar Re Mi, So Mi Dar and Lah Ti Dar. He’s pretty special.
“I was always going to win but I felt like the penny didn’t really drop. A furlong and a half out I said ‘let’s go - let’s stop playing now’. He shuffled a bit for 20 yards and then wow – he got into top gear and off he went.
“I just kept him right up to the line because I suspect a Group 1 will be the next step. I gave him as much experience as I could, gave him a couple of flicks and he’s put a very good field to bed in impressive fashion.
“There was strength in depth in the race so we’re all very excited.
“It’s one step at a time – at the moment we’ll try to win a Group 1 as a two-year-old. He’s got all sorts of options.”
Too Darn Hot was immediately cut to 5-1 favourite for next year’s Derby by Paddy Power.
It came ten minutes after Aidan O’Brien’s Ten Sovereigns had taken top spot at 7-1 in the 2000 Guineas betting after an impressive Curragh win. His place as favourite didn’t last long as Too Darn Hot was immediately slashed to 6-1 favourite for the Newmarket Classic.
He runs in the pink-and-grey colours of musicals maestro Lord Lloyd-Webber but it could easily have been different.
Racing manager Simon Marsh said: “We always sell our colts but we kept this horse as he had a small veterinary issue so we couldn’t take him to the sales. It’s extremely good luck.
“You’d hope he’d get 1m4f but there’s no reason to think he’s not a Guineas horse.
“He deserves his chance in a Group 1.”
They will be hoping his luck lasts. Too Darn Hot’s mum Dar Re Mi and sisters So Mi Dar and Lah Ti Dar all had to miss Epsom for varying reasons when fancied for the Oaks.