Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes
Group 2, Doncaster 15:00 £75,000 added, 2yo only, 7f 6y, Class 1
Saturday 15th September 2018

1 Too Darn Hot 4/11F
2 Phoenix Of Spain 8/1
3 Cardini 40/1
6 ran Distances: 1¾l, 2½l, 1¼l
Time: 1m 23.92s (slow by 1.42s)

Trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Too Darn Hot was sent of the 4-11 favourite in what was billed as a head-to-head with impressive Vintage Stakes winner Dark Vision.

Too Darn Hot
© Racehorse Photos

Dettori was content to settle his mount through the early stages as Bye Bye Hong Kong was virtually running away with David Probert, and only Seamie Heffernan went with him on Cardini.

Dark Vision raced alongside Too Darn Hot in the early exchanges, but when Dettori started to take a stronger hold with around three furlongs still to run, the writing was on the wall for the former and Mark Johnston’s colt dropped away tamely.

Too Darn Hot really started to lengthen out and once he got rolling, the son of Dubawi made up the deficit with Cardini in effortless style, triumphing by a comfortable length and three-quarters from Phoenix Of Spain at the line.

Gosden said: “He was very impressive and it took Frankie a long time to pull him up. He and Seamie went past the Leger start and up to Rose Hill.

“It’s a long way to gallop out after a seven-furlong two-year-old race. Maybe they were trying to find out if they’ll stay middle-distances next year!”

He added: “I’m happy with him and he did everything right. He quickened up from a long way back – he’s a young, talented horse.”

“He’s in the three Group Ones in October and there’ll be no decision (on which one he runs in) for 10 days.”

Dettori said: “That was very special. What he did between the three and the one blew me away.

“I guess the next step is a Group One, but he is very talented. When you run him on a flat track you can really feel his gears. He’s learning how to race and everything he did today was amazing.”

Asked whether he felt Too Darn Hot was a Guineas or Derby horse, Dettori added: “We’ll take it one step at a time. We’re only learning about him.”

Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes (Group 2)
£75,000 added, 2yo only, 7f 6y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good

Pos	Dr	D	Horse SP	Jockey Weight	Trainer	Age
1st	(5)		Too Darn Hot 4/11f	L Dettori 9-0	J H M Gosden	2
2nd	(3)	1¾	Phoenix Of Spain (IRE) 8/1	James Doyle 9-0	C Hills	2
3rd	(4)	2½	Cardini (USA) 40/1	J A Heffernan 9-0	A P O'Brien	2
4th	(2)	1¼	Van Beethoven (CAN) 14/1	R L Moore 9-3	A P O'Brien	2
5th	(1)	1	Bye Bye Hong Kong (USA) 20/1	David Probert 9-0	A M Balding	2
6th	(6)	6	Dark Vision (IRE) 5/1	S De Sousa 9-3	M Johnston	2

RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP

2017 Seahenge
2016 Rivet W J Haggas Andrea Atzeni The Starship Partnership 7/4f
2015 Emotionless C Appleby W Buick Godolphin 8/13f
2014 Estidhkaar Richard Hannon Paul Hanagan Hamdan Al Maktoum 10/11f
2013 Outstrip Charlie Appleby Mikael Barzalona Godolphin 13/8 jf
2012 Toronado Richard Hannon Richard Hughes Carmichael Humber 11/4
2011 Trumpet Major Richard Hannon Richard Hughes John Manley 7/1
2010 Saamidd Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 5/6 fav
2009 Poet’s Voice Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 10/1
2008 Westphalia Aidan O’Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh M Tabor, D Smith, S Magnier 100/30
2007 McCartney Mark Johnston Ryan Moore Sheikh Mohammed 8/1
2006 Vital Equine Eoghan O'Neill Richard Mullen Fasthandle Ltd 16/1
2005 DH Close To You Terry Mills John Egan Miss J A Leighs 8/1
DH Silent Times Eoghan O'Neiill Jamie Spencer John Fretwell 6/1
2004 Etlaala Barry Hills Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 6/1
2003 Lucky Story Mark Johnston Darryll Holland Abdulla Buhaleeba 2/1
2002 Almushahar David Loder Frankie Dettori Hamdan Al Maktoum 8/11 fav
2001 Dubai Destination David Loder Frankie Dettori Sheikh Mohammed 3/1
2000 Noverre David Loder FR Frankie Dettori Godolphin SNC 7/2
1999 Distant Music Barry Hills Michael Hills Khalid Abdullah 13/8 fav