The HOTTEST ticket in town: Too Darn Hot nomination up for The CatWalk Trust

Cover Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

In a collaboration between Godolphin, Watership Down Stud and CatWalk, all proceeds from the nomination will go directly towards funding critical research to support those living with spinal cord injuries. The nomination will be offered as Lot One in the Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale, which runs from 22–27 August.

A sire on fire

A stallion making a serious impact in both hemispheres is Too Darn Hot (GB). Last season in Australia, the son of Dubawi (Ire) sired 10 individual stakes winners of 15 stakes races - including seven at Group level. The headliner was undoubtedly Broadsiding, who has now retired to stand alongside his father at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST) after winning four Group 1 races across his 2-year-old and 3-year-old seasons.

Other Australian stakes winners by Too Darn Hot last season include Group 2 winners Shanwah, Too Darn Discreet, Rivellino, and Too Darn Lizzie; Group 3 winners Tropicus and Arabian Summer; and Listed winners Silmarillion, Superalloy, and Perspiration, along with another seven stakes performers.

It’s a remarkable trajectory and a clear sign he’s just getting started. Overall worldwide, from 339 progeny to race, he has sired 203 winners, including 27 stakes winners - an outstanding 8% stakes-winners-to-runners ratio, with four individual Group 1 winners among them.

With figures like that, it’s easy to see why he stands at a fee of $275,000 (inc. GST), a price that ensures his nomination will be highly sought after by major breeders across Australasia. This will ultimately raise a substantial amount of money that will be generously donated to the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust.

What is The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust?

The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust, founded by Dame Catriona Williams after she sustained a life-changing spinal cord injury in 2002, is committed to curing spinal cord injury through world-class research, global collaboration, and patient-focused initiatives.

Based in New Zealand, the Trust funds a wide range of programmes – from scientific discovery to therapeutic development – driving progress both locally and internationally toward better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

CatWalk’s dedicated, New Zealand-based research team is working towards the natural regeneration of the damaged spinal cord. Their work is unique and world-leading.

Dame Catriona was one of New Zealand’s leading international equestrian riders. Following a riding accident in 2002, she became a C6/C7 tetraplegic and now uses a wheelchair. Initially, a group of friends planned to raise funds to support Catriona directly – but a bigger picture quickly emerged. A cure for paralysis became her dream, and so CatWalk was born.

Since that life-changing moment, Catriona has been an enduring inspiration. She has completed the New York City Marathon and climbed to Everest Base Camp on a handcycle. Her honours include being a finalist for the 2014 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year, induction into the NZ Horse of the Year Show Hall of Fame, and recognition as the Community and Not-for-Profit sector winner at the 2016 NZ Women of Influence Awards.

In the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours list, she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

“Support like this is extraordinary,” said Williams. “It’s not just about funding research, it’s about giving people hope. Every dollar raised helps move us closer to our goal to see people walk again. We’re incredibly grateful to Godolphin and Watership Down for standing with us and believing in what’s possible.”

The generosity of Godolphin and Watership Down Stud

This generous offer of a nomination to an elite stallion is a powerful way to raise funds for a charity doing outstanding work in the search for a cure for spinal cord injury.

Too Darn Hot is co-owned and was bred by Watership Down Stud, a UK-based operation owned by Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber. The Darley stallion, who was raced by Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber, was a six-time winner, claiming victories in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes, G1 Sussex Stakes and the G1 Prix Jean Prat.

He currently shuttles between Godolphin’s Dalham Hall in the UK and Australia, and appears to be one of those rare stallions who achieves elite results in both hemispheres.

The team at Watership Down Stud are long-standing supporters of the CatWalk cause.

“As a former three-day eventer, CatWalk and Catriona’s incredible campaign are very close to my heart. I’m honoured to support her wonderful and impactful charity,” said Madeleine Lloyd Webber, Owner of Watership Down Stud.

Simon Marsh, General Manager of Watership Down Stud, agreed:

“We’ve supported this cause for several years now, and it continues to mean a lot to us. To offer a nomination to a stallion of this calibre and, in doing so, help raise funds for something so important, feels like the right way to give back.”

“Being named Champion Second Season Sire in Australia, after taking out the first-season title last year, puts him in elite company. He is the only shuttle stallion to achieve this since Danehill and it’s a credit to the horse and everyone behind him.”

The last Too Darn Hot nomination ahead of the season

Andy Makiv, Managing Director of Godolphin Australia, highlighted that this is the final Too Darn Hot nomination to be offered before the breeding season begins – a last chance for breeders to access a stallion booked by elite mares, including the great Winx (Street Cry {Ire}).

Makiv emphasised what a significant opportunity this is, both in terms of breeding and supporting an important cause.

“Too Darn Hot has all the attributes of an outstanding stallion. He returns to Australia after a season off and is almost impossible to get access to given his achievements and popularity. To support CatWalk with the last available nomination to be offered before the breeding season starts is something we are very proud to be part of.”