“ He’s up there with the best I’ve ridden “ was how winning jockey Frankie Dettori described the John Gosden-trained and Lord Lloyd-Webber-owned Too Darn Hot following the son of Dubawi’s comprehensive victory in Newmarket’s Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes on Saturday afternoon, a win which elevated the unbeaten colt into clear ante-post favouritism for next year’s Qipco 2000 Guineas, the 7-4 currently available with Sky Bet and Betfred the best to be had for the first Classic of the 2019 Flat season.
Sent off the even money favourite for the seven furlong contest at headquarters won by the great Frankel in 2010, Too Darn Hot looked a horse of tremendous potential after victories at Sandown ( twice ) and Doncaster on his first three starts and that promise was proved justified with the horse putting two and three quarter lengths between himself and Phoenix Stakes winner Advertise, the highly-regarded Ballydoyle first-string Anthony Van Dyck managing no better than a satisfactory third place after being headed inside the final furlong.
🔥🔥Too Darn Hot sizzles for Frankie! They've won the Dewhurst in style! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/7OpoVWSonY
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 13, 2018
Thirty five minutes earlier the French juvenile Persian King just got the better of a sustained battle with Ballydoyle’s Magna Grecia in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes and while the two colts look a couple of exciting prospects for 2019 there can be little doubt that Too Darn Hot is going to end the season as the top-rated two-year-old, especially with the juvenile races at last week’s Arc meeting looking below the standard normally expected.
https://twitter.com/WorldRacing007/status/1051104525216636929
Speaking before the race of his concern regarding the fast ground Gosden was a relieved man after the impressive victory, saying “ I had misgivings about even running because it’s firm and he wants good ground, but he showed his class up the hill.”
With his ability to handle both soft and firm ground Too Darn Hot is going to be a potent force all being well next season but whether the mile and a half trip of the Investec Derby is within his compass remains to be seen. Sky Bet and Betfred appear the least convinced of the horse’s stamina by offering 4-1 about Too Darn Hot winning the world’s most famous Flat race on Saturday 1st June.
Want to get the best free bets for the Premier League and Champions League? We’ve got you covered for all of the biggest fixtures in the biggest and best league in the world, not to mention Europe’s premier club competition! Don’t miss your chance to win big!