As the ditty after which he is named says, the thermometer goes way up on Saturday when 'TDN Rising Star' Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) shoots for champion juvenile status in Newmarket's G1 Darley Dewhurst S. Off the mark by seven lengths in a mile maiden on debut at Sandown Aug. 9, extending his tally by four back there for the Sept. 1 G3 Solario S. and sweeping to a smooth verdict in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster Sept. 15, potentially the Lloyd-Webbers' best-yet needs to conclude his campaign with a comprehensive full-stop here. John Gosden knows what he is dealing with, as the bay is a full-brother to the G3 Musidora S. scorer So Mi Dar (GB) and recent G1 St Leger runner-up Lah Ti Dar (GB).
“He's a quick learner and is more precocious than the rest of the family, but it is a big jump,” he commented. “I am not surprised that he came to hand quickly, because he is a very active, joyful horse, who has always been on the front foot and he just presented himself. He's a happy, cheerful horse, which is helpful as they let you know when they are bouncing.”
The ground at “headquarters” was riding quick yesterday and his trainer is awaiting the verdict on how the current 2000 Guineas favourite will handle himself on this terrain. “Doncaster is a different track to Newmarket, what with the dip and the quick ground, but we have been happy with him,” he added. “He is a bit of a buzz horse, but he has won his races well. He's a lot like So Mi Dar and he's got a great turn of foot, but I'm not convinced that he will stay more than a mile and a quarter next year.”
Another 'TDN Rising Star' is Khalid Abdullah's Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who also covered the same seven-furlong trip as Too Darn Hot a day earlier on Doncaster's Town Moor when winning the Listed Flying Scotsman S. Without question, his time performance in that race leaves him far behind his peer but the manner of his success merely confirmed the highly favourable impression he created on his winning debut at Newmarket Aug. 24. Racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said, “He's picked a bad year to be a good 2-year-old. Everything he has done has been progressive. He's a nice, scopey horse, with a very good temperament. He looks quite like Kingman from that point of view.”
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Sangarius looks to make up for last year's disappointment with Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) and provide the handler with just a second edition and end a 32-year drought after Ajdal. When someone like the master of Freemason Lodge gives a positive signal, it only has to be subtle and Teddy Grimthorpe revealed that the vibes emanating from there are positive. “He exudes a very pleasant attitude when he is talking about him,” he revealed. “We've always thought he had good potential. He's probably progressed quicker than we originally expected, so Sir Michael is happy enough for him to take his chance in the Dewhurst.”
Already successful in this category, Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited's Aug. 12 G1 Phoenix S. hero Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) has to prove stamina for this extra furlong and he did not look as if he was crying out for seven furlongs there or when winning the July 12 G2 July S. on the other track in this town. Trainer Martyn Meade insists he is made to measure for the extra distance and said, “It was always the plan to wait for the Dewhurst after the Phoenix, I just thought the little break would do him good. He'd had four runs anyway, he couldn't have had a better preparation as far as I'm concerned. I think he's a bit undervalued at the moment, personally, but there we go.”
Aidan O'Brien is looking for a seventh renewal and a fourth in succession and he saddles a formidable trio in Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Mohawk (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Christmas (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). First, second and third, respectively, in the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh Aug. 26, they kept the same order when second, third and fourth behind Quorto (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) over the same course and distance in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. Mohawk has since taken the G2 Royal Lodge S. over a mile here Sept. 29 and his inclusion suggests a demanding tempo is on the cards. “We think Anthony Van Dyck is getting better and progressing with every run. We think he has come forward nicely from the Curragh,” the Ballydoyle handler said. “Mohawk is back to seven again, but he came out of the last run well and he likes a nice bit of ground.”
If there is one in danger of being ignored it is Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's Kuwait Currency (Kitten's Joy), who scored over a mile at Salisbury in the Aug. 24 Listed Stonehenge S. “Kuwait Currency has done very well since he won the Stonehenge S. at Salisbury,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “The drop back to seven furlongs shouldn't bother him and if they get a bit of rain that might help, though fast ground on that nice straight course ought to be fine for him anyway. The opposition looks pretty good–it's a very hot race. This edition of the Dewhurst will probably be the best 2-year-old race run anywhere this year.”
The preceding race at Newmarket is an exciting encounter in its own right, with Ballymore Thoroughbred's 'TDN Rising Star' Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) making the trip to Andre Fabre's favourite racecourse for the G3 Masar Godolphin Autumn S. If the bare performance of his five-length dismissal of fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Lone Peak (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in a mile conditions event at Chantilly Sept. 15 is a reliable measurement of his ability, he is an outstanding prospect for France's longstanding champion trainer. “We'd always been looking towards this race rather than the Lagardere,” he revealed. “Anodor (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) beat him on his debut and he ran well in the Lagardere, while mine was impressive last time out so we'll know where we are going after this race. I wouldn't like soft ground for him, so I hope there is not much rain. I will get excited about him if he wins this, but at the moment I'm just hopeful.”
Donnacha O'Brien is on the impressive Sept. 30 Naas seven-furlong maiden scorer Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) ahead of the Sept. 22 Gowran Park mile winner Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), which gives a guide as to the perceived relative merit of the pair who represent Niarchos interests. “Magna Grecia won nicely at Naas, where he was green, and he's in good form,” the trainer said. “He has come forward from Naas, but will come forward more. Circus Maximus is the same. He was very green at Gowran and has come forward from there, but we think he will come forward even more again.”
Karl Burke was forced to scratch Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited's Kadar (Scat Daddy) from the Royal Lodge two weeks ago and he has ongoing concerns about conditions for the €700,000 relative of Kalanisi (Ire), who beat 'TDN Rising Star' Waldstern (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in a mile novice stakes at Haydock Sept. 6. “He's a lovely horse, but he wouldn't want the ground to be rattling quick,” his trainer said. “We pulled him out at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago because of the ground and we'll keep an eye on it, but he's a very exciting horse for the future. He might be by Scat Daddy, but he's out of a Sinndar mare and has a little bit of a knee action and he's a big, powerful galloper.”
Waldstern appears elsewhere on the card in the Listed Godolphin Flying Start Zetland S. won 12 months ago by Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). He is bred to appreciate this 10-furlong trip, over which his half-brother Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) captured the 2016 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at the same fledgling stage of his career. Aidan O'Brien has the convincing Oct. 2 Naas maiden scorer Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) engaged alongside the Royal Lodge runner-up Sydney Opera House (GB) (Australia {GB}), while he is also responsible for a rare runner in the card's prestigious Cesarewitch H. The Sept. 15 G1 St Leger third Southern France (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a potential blot on the 18-furlong handicap and the Ballydoyle trainer said, “He's in good form. It's a competitive handicap for a 3-year-old, but we're going to leave him off after this with the view to having him next year. Obviously the trip is what we're not sure about, but we think he's in good form and we think he is running off a nice mark.”
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