Cover image courtesy of Darley

When it was announced a few months ago that Too Darn Hot (GB) would not be shuttling to Australia this spring, there were disappointed sighs amongst breeders who were justifiably excited by his early local results.

But a number of those decided that location was not going to stop them utilizing his services, leading to the 8-year-old being supported by a very nice book of 60 mares being bred to southern hemisphere time from his Newmarket base.

There are several opportunities for Australian breeders to snap up these mares in the coming weeks, however. The Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale will feature five in-foal mares, including a standout for Australians with the offering of Blessed Truly (Can) (Souper Speedy {Can}) - a close relation to recent brilliant G1 Coolmore S. winner Switzerland (Snitzel).

Soon after, on Dec 11 and 12, the inaugural Southern Hemisphere Session offered by Tattersalls Online and Inglis Digital will feature an octet of mares in foal to the sire.

The future has Liam O’Rourke excited, especially in regards to the quality of the mares Too Darn Hot has been serving.

“Of his southern hemisphere book, five have produced Group winners including the dams of the Group 1 winners Barney Roy, Daumier and Land Legend.”

Another 17 are stakes-winning mares and amongst that impressive tally are three Group 1 winners.

The South African Champion 2YO Filly Cloth Of Cloud (SAF) (Captain Al {SAF}) is one of those and interestingly the half-sister to fellow Group 1 winner Silver Mountain (SAF) (Silvano {Ger}) hails from the same prolific Frizette (USA) (Hamburg {USA}) family as Too Darn Hot.

Medaglia d’Oro (USA) is a stallion who picks up well on Frizette influence so it is nice to see one of his best daughters visiting Too Darn Hot, the G1 1000 Guineas winner Flit whose half-sister Speedway (Street Cry {Ire}) is the dam of Too Darn Hot’s local star 3-year-old Broadsiding.

Another from South Africa is the G1 Woolavington 2000 winner Lady Of The House (SAF) (Dynasty {SAF}) whose dam Overarching (USA) (Arch {USA}) earned the title of South African Champion Female Sprinter with her two wins at the elite level.

That’s an interesting mating too, Dynasty (SAF) being a son of the great South African success story Fort Wood (USA) whose high achieving dam Fall Aspen (USA) (Pretense {USA}) is the grandam of Too Darn Hot’s grandsire Dubai Millennium (GB).

Five other Group-winning mares are members of Too Darn Hot’s book whilst 19 are the daughters of Group winners.

Amongst the latter are a nice selection of mares whose dams won Group 1 races; the Great Britain and French Champion Female Older Stayer Aquarelliste (Fr) (Danehill {USA}), the GB Champion 3YO Filly Blue Bunting (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}), the European Champion 3YO Filly Sariska (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), the dual Group 1 winner Switch (USA) (Quiet American {USA}) and aptly two winners of the G1 Frizette S. (ancestress of Too Darn Hot); Nickname (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) and Yellow Agate (USA) (Gemologist {USA}).

The daughters of two mares well known in this part of the world are also on the list; one out of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Small Minds (Canny Lad) and another out of the eight-time Group 1 winner More Joyous (More Than Ready {USA}).

Adding further strength to Too Darn Hot’s crop are 24 siblings to stakes winners with nine of those; Bivouac, Cylinder, In Italian (Dubawi {Ire}), Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Lyric Of Light (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), Skilled, Silver Mountain, Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Zoffany (Ire).

Gary Johnson is a fan and supporter

One Australian Too Darn Hot fan is Gary Johnson, the Perth-based successful owner and breeder who admits to being a big fan of the European style of horse.

“I have fallen in love with horses like Siyouni, Frankel, Kingman, Zarak, Baaeed and Too Darn Hot,” he said.

“So I have been meddling my way around breeding in Europe and bought some mares. So when it was announced that Too Darn Hot would not be shuttling and would be serving to southern hemisphere time I thought ‘easy’ I have the mares!”

Johnson has sent well-related mares to the young stallion; Believeinmiracles (Ire) (Frankel), a two-time winner whose dam is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Crimson Coronet (GB) (Zoustar), a winning daughter of the Listed winner Crimson Rosette (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Good Liza (Fr) (Kingman), a winning half-sister to the stakes winners Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Ghislaine (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}).

Johnson has his Australian mares at Three Bridges Thoroughbreds in Victoria and with that stud’s Toby Liston he enjoyed visiting Too Darn Hot last year, also taking time to check in on Dubawi (Ire).

“You really could say that he is the pony who takes kids for a ride,” he laughed in regards to Dubawi’s well-known lack of stature.

“But he is probably one of the greatest stallions of all time!”

Which is no exaggeration with Dubawi’s stakes winner ratio of 16.7 per cent an impressive one. He stood only three seasons in Australia where 138 of his 185 runners (74.5 per cent) of his runners were winners including 23 (12.4 per cent) stakes winners.

Amongs those being the Group 1 winners Srikandi, Secret Admirer, Tiger Tees (NZ) and Shamal Wind.

Excellent results from initial scans

Results from the initial scans of Too Darn Hot’s southern hemisphere time mares have, O’Rourke said, been “excellent.”

“Coverings are continuing and a high percentage of pregnancies is expected,” he said.

O’Rourke and the Darley team have been long-time fans of Too Darn Hot, not surprisingly considering the success they have enjoyed with his sire and his grandsire who was of course taken far too soon.

“Too Darn Hot caught the eye from an early stage and I was monitoring his progress well before his debut at Sandown,” O’Rourke said.

“We had been searching for a possible heir to the great Dubawi and Too Darn Hot possessed that rare combination of tip-top conformation, an excellent ability and the racing ability to match.”

“He really ticked all the boxes. We had to stretch to get him but it does seem worthwhile now. Luckily his breeders and now co-owners Madeline and Andrew Lloyd-Webber were keen to stand him in the United Kingdom.”

O’Rourke sees a lot of Dubawi’s qualities in Too Darn Hot, in particular “his toughness.”

“He is transmitting that to his stock, Hotazhell a good example; his last two starts have epitomised that toughness and it is very much a Dubawi trait,” he said, joking that “dad is very proud of his son!”

O’Rourke is also a fan of Too Darn Hot on type. “He is refined, correct and all quality.”

Playful and full of energy

“And temperament-wise he remains quite playful and full of energy as he was when in training. There is no malice whatsoever in him.”

O’Rourke has not been surprised to see Too Darn Hot fare so well in Australia, noting that “he was an amenable horse who settled well in his races. He was primarily a good ground horse with a very telling turn of foot, both very important for the Australian style of racing.”

“Interestingly his progeny have shown versatility in regards to ground conditions with both of his Group 1-winning colts Broadsiding and Hotazhell winning on soft ground as well as good.”

The winner of six of his nine starts, Too Darn Hot was three times successful in Group 1 company, earning himself the titles of Champion 2YO and 3YO Colt in Europe in 2018 and 2019. Champion 2YO in GB in 2018, Champion 3YO Sprinter in France in 2019 and Champion 3YO Miler in GB in 2019.

Pedigree wise they don’t really come any better bred. One of his super sire’s 290 stakes winners and 59 Group 1 winners, he is one of the three stakes winners for his three-time Group 1-winning dam Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), the Champion Older Female in GB in 2009.

Her Group 1-winning dam Darara (Ire) (Top Ville {Ire}) did a superb job at stud with her 10 winners including five stakes winners with River Dancer (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), Rewilding (GB) (Tiger Hill {Ire}) and Darazari (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) also being Group 1 winners.

Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos

Ciaron Maher’s stable believes Nadal (Xtravagant {NZ}) can return to Group 1-level and be competitive after his stunning 2.75l win in The Meteorite over 1200 metres at Cranbourne on Saturday.

The 4-year-old was near the tail of the field at the 200-metre mark, but then swiftly put away his opponents courtesy of a lightning turn of foot under a well-judged ride from Ethan Brown, who recorded a hat-trick of winners on the 10-race card.

That burst of speed allowed Nadal to ease up inside the final 100 metres and comfortably prevail in the $1 million sprint.

It was the type of classy finish that Maher stable head foreman Adrian Joyce believes will hold the gelding in good stead at the elite level, finishing over the top of capable gallopers Rey Magnerio (Magnus) and Baraqiel (Snitzel).

Joyce also believes Nadal – now with three wins from 10 starts and $652,865 in career prizemoney – can get further than 1200 metres.

“You would think after that run that he’d be a Group 1 contender now,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.

“He deserves his right to have a crack at one – 1200 seems to be his sweet spot, but he can get a bit further as well.

“I’m sure Ciaron will find the right race for him.”

Maher and his previous training partner David Eustace thought Nadal was good enough for Group 1 level as a 3-year-old last spring, finishing 11th and sixth in the 2023 Golden Rose and Coolmore Stud S.

Connections then made the difficult decision to geld Nadal, but it turned out the right call.

“He was kind of heavyset as a colt, so to keep his longevity and to keep him sound, it was the right call to make,” Joyce said.

Not big in stature, but big in heart

The top-priced Xtravagant (NZ) yearling of his year, Nadal was a $250,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He is the best of two winners from four to race for the stakes-winning Moshe mare Moshki.

Group 1 winner Xtravagant has produced five stakes winners and 96 victors in total from 160 runners, including G2 winner Lavish Girl.

With this pedigree, Joyce now believes Nadal has the mindset to make a better fist of Group 1 racing.

And that is despite not having the advantage of size on his side.

“He’s one of those models like a sprinter. He’s not overly big, but he’s a muscly, compact kind of horse,” Joyce said.

“His temperament is very, very good. He’s such a chilled out, relaxed character.

“That will always help him going forward.”

Maher stable: 'We knew Nadal loves the big occasions'

Joyce knew Nadal had the type of brilliant performance in him that he displayed in Saturday’s slot race for Southside Racing, the banner which Cranbourne and Pakenham Racing Clubs merged under.

And that was despite starting from barrier 10.

In his past two starts, the 4-year-old finished fourth in the Listed Always Welcome S. at Flemington on November 9, after saluting by 1.75l at Benchmark 78 Handicap level at Caulfield on October 16.

Just like his namesake and now-retired Spanish tennis legend, Nadal rose to the occasion in the inaugural running of the $1 million feature sprint, the richest race to be run at Cranbourne.

“We’re chuffed. He was absolutely electric (on Saturday). He has that in him,” Joyce said.

“He’s done nothing wrong all prep. Even his last run at Flemington off the straight, he was a bit unlucky.

“He just didn’t get the right splits at the time, and he showed what he could do today.

“The draw was sticky, so we needed things to go right and get the right breaks.

“But Ethan gave him a superb ride. He went hard early, and it all worked out for him.”

Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos

Relief was an emotion Michael Kent Jnr felt just as much as the euphoria of winning his hometown Cranbourne Cup for the first time after Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) saluted by 0.25l in the Listed feature on Saturday.

That is because there was a time when he admits his 6-year-old – who won his first four starts – might not have returned to the racetrack due to heart issues.

But all that was forgotten when the gelding led from start to finish in the $500,000 mile race, saluting from runner-up Air Assault (Justify {USA}) in a thrilling finish.

It was jockey Ethan Brown's third win of the day.

Saturday’s victory was Globe first in five starts, taking his career tally to five wins from nine races, and a total of $506,250 in prizemoney for co-trainers Kent Jnr and Mick Price.

And it was a deserved win this preparation after finishing fourth in the G3 Moonga S. on October 19, and runner-up in the Manifold S. at Flemington on November 7.

“I’m absolutely delighted, over the moon. There was definitely a point in time where Mick and I thought we wouldn’t get this horse back,” Kent Jnr told The Thoroughbred Report.

“He burst onto the scene as a slow starter. He won his first four starts by increasing margins as he went up in grade.

“And then he had pretty severe cardiac arrhythmia when he was favourite in the Feehan (S. last year, finishing last), and required a break.

“He had one run back, then had a fight with the water walker and had to have another break.

“So he’s been very sparingly raced the past 12 months. But just the whole preparation he’s been perfect.”

Globe's travails make him a wiser racehorse

Kent Jnr said Globe had matured greatly this preparation.

“The way he looks, he’s a really happy horse. He’s a high nervous-energy horse, but he’s been much more settled this preparation,” he said.

“And he just built to this win (on Saturday). First-up was good and second-up was better.

“Cranbourne is a track that probably doesn’t suit him. But he’s got a big ticker and a will to win.

“He really showed it late.”

Kent Jnr said he and Price were prepared to show so much patience with Globe during his health battles because of the raw ability he displayed early on, after saluting in his first four starts.

“You’re definitely patient for the good ones, especially. That’s because he’s shown so much ability and we had to keep persevering,” he said.

“While he’s an older horse, he’s been very lightly raced. He’s still on the up, and the mile was just okay for him today.

“But he’ll maintain that same cruising speed over 1800 and 2000 metres, and that’s where I think he’ll really come into his own.

“So (on Saturday) I think he got away with it, but I’m really looking forward to going up in trip.

“And if he gets his toe in the ground, he finds a few lengths on soft ground.”

Globe is by European Group 1 winner Charm Spirit (Ire), who has produced 20 stakes winners.

And he is out of Bonnie Doon (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}), who is a full sister to dual Group 1 winner Booming (NZ).

Roll The Dice hit jackpot with shrewd buy

Globe was purchased at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 2) by J Naito from the draft of Cambria Park for just $22,000.

A trial winner at Taupo in April of 2022 for the late Toby Autridge, Globe was later bought privately for Roll The Dice Racing by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.

“We purchased Globe out of a trial in New Zealand. When we’re buying horses out of New Zealand we’re buying trial form and not necessarily pedigree,” Kent Jnr said.

“And as we know horses can come from anywhere.

“He’s by Charm Spirit, so he’s got that spark about him. He won a trial by about six or seven lengths and we were very impressed by it.

“Hence we were keen to secure him.

“We bought in partnership with Roll The Dice, so half the syndicate’s our clients and half are their clients.

“We love Roll The Dice, we’ve had so much success with them. And I’ve got a lot of my mates in this horse, which is what’s really cool.”

Kent Jnr: 'There's nothing like hometown Cup win with Globe'

Saturday was extra special for hometown boy Kent Jnr, who was visibly elated to savour his first Cranbourne Cup victory with an equally-delighted group of owners.

“I’m born and bred in Cranbourne. I grew up here with Dad. Dad’s won a Cranbourne Cup, this is Mick’s third Cranbourne Cup, but it’s a first for me,” he said.

“The Cranbourne Cup has long been a part of my life. It used to land on my birthday every year, so I’d always have a marquee up on the hill.

“I’ve got very fond memories, even as far back as spending time with my now-wife 14 years ago in the 2010 Cranbourne Cup.

“So it’s really good to win it. It’s so good, with this horse especially. I’ve got all my friends in the horse, so it’s all happened.”

Cover image courtesy of Japan Racing Association

Jockey Yutaka Take rode a patient race, settling last in the 14-strong field which included dominant G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Goliath (Adlerflug {Ger}), six-time Group 1 winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), as well as Group 1 veteran Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) was let stride by Take around the field at the top of the Tokyo straight and let down powerfully to quickly surge to the lead but was forced to hold off a late challenge by Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and top stayer Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who dead-heated for second, to win by a neck.

“The pace was slow again and I had trouble settling him down in the trip,” Take said.

“I thought I may have accelerated too early, but I believed in my horse and that he’d be able to sustain that speed until the end.

“We had some top horses from around the world competing this year, which was a great joy. And to be able to win against them, I think, means a lot for this horse.”

Fourth in the 2023 Japan Cup behind superstar Equinox (JPN) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Do Deuce claimed his fifth Group 1 win in the 2024 edition and in the process also gifted jockey Yutaka Take his fifth Japan Cup victory.

Do Deuce was bred by Northern Farm and is best of six winners from Group 2 winning mare Dust And Diamonds (Vindication).

The victory of Do Deuce has also earned James McDonald his second World’s Best Jockey title, as Ryan Moore fell short in his attempt to claim the title with derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Moore needed to secure a win with Auguste Rodin to accumulate the 12 points necessary to surpass McDonald in the final qualifying race for 2024. However, he could only manage eighth place. Moore was aiming for his sixth title in this prestigious competition, which recognizes the top performers in major races worldwide each year, and he had been leading until McDonald’s remarkable week at Flemington.

Moore previously won the title in 2014, 2016, 2021, and 2023, while McDonald was honored as the World's Best Jockey in 2022.