STAR IS TOO DARN GOOD
Gosden ace Derby favourite
TOO DARN HOT lived up to his name with a sizzling performance in the Solario Stakes.
He was made the new favourite for next year’s Investec Derby on the strength of his high-class display.
An impressive seven-length winner on his debut over a mile, the John Gosden-trained colt was stepping up in class but down in trip for the Group Three, won by this year’s Epsom hero Masar 12 months ago.
Gosden has won the race before with the brilliant Kingman and Raven’s Pass and he looks to have a horse just as good with Too Darn Hot.
He showed inexperience in the hands of Frankie Dettori and was caught flat-footed entering the straight.
But once he was organised the result was inevitable.
Royal Ascot winner Arthur Kitt was was four lengths behind the even-money favourite with Confiding in third.
Dettori said: “He’s Too Darn Hot, that’s for sure! I rode the mum, I rode the dad, all his
HOT TO TROT: Frankie Dettori and Too Darn Hot power home at Sandown
siblings, and while he’s still a work in progress, to put a good field to bed like that, you’ve got to be impressed.
“He was still a bit green at the top of the straight so I let him get balanced before I asked him to get serious and stop playing – then the turbo kicked in.
“I kept him up to his work because I suppose the next target will be a Group One.”
Thady Gosden, assistant to his father, said: “We couldn’t be happier, he was a bit green early in the straight, but then Frankie got hold of him. He’s always shown plenty of ability.”
SUNDAY SERVICE AMANDA PERRETT’S team have hit a nice patch of form and she can continue the run when LIGHTNING CHARLIE (3.00) (nap) lines up at Brighton today.
Partnered by ace apprentice Jason Watson, the partnership cruised home in a similar contest two weeks ago off a 4lb lower mark.
This looks a slightly better race but it is worth noting that the six-year-old was rated 8lb higher this time last year.
Later at the seaside track, the well-bred ISLAND JUNGLE (3.30) can make a winning career debut for the boys in blue in the 7f maiden, while course specialist Roy Rocket may be thwarted in his bid to land a 10th win at the track by top weight PURPLE ROCK.
At Worcester, Notnow Seamus looks sure to go close to landing a four timer in the feature handicap hurdle but he has to give a fair bit of weight away to UTILITY (4.15).
THE LAST MELON (4.45) will relish the step up to a well run three miles and MASSINI’S DREAM (5.15) can finally get off the mark at the
NEXT WEEK Unbeaten over the course and distance and with just one major blip on his CV, HARRY ANGEL can retain his Haydock Sprint Cup title at the Lancashire track on Saturday.
Last year the son of Dark Angel blitzed his rivals to the tune of four lengths and more.
Being badly shaken in an incident in the stalls at Royal Ascot explained his heavy defeat in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, but trainer Clive Cox told me he has flourished since that incident: “We gave him plenty of time to get over that and he has satisfied in his work since and will go to Haydock in good form,” he said.
If you want to oppose the favourite then the best each-way call against him is probably the Aidan O’Brien-trained Clemmie who drops to six furlongs for the first time since landing the Cheveley Park Stakes last autumn.
Look out for GREY GALLEON if he takes up an entry at Bath on Wednesday. He never got into the race at Sandown on Friday and remains well handicapped.