Cover image courtesy of Darley
On Monday, breeders learned that Darley’s Too Darn Hot (GB) will not be joining the Darley Australia roster.
Earlier in the year, the son of Dubawi (Ire) was announced to stand for an increased fee of $110,000 (inc GST) from $44,000 (inc GST) at Darley’s Kelvinside property in New South Wales. Despite the hefty rise, it was not without merit.
Too Darn Hot, true to his name, made a blazing start with his first Southern Hemisphere-conceived runners. From 33 runners, he has sired 12 individual winners of 18 races and six stakes-performed 2-year-olds.
Broadsiding | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
These runners are led by the Darley-bred Broadsiding. The James Cummings-trained colt burst onto the scene with victory in the Listed Fernhill H., quickly followed by success in the G1 Champagne S. Kept in training, Broadsiding showed a new dimension in the G2 Sires’ Produce S. and then reached new heights in the G1 JJ Atkins S.
Broadsiding is complemented by the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Arabian Summer. The bonny filly won the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic, the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic, and the GCTC Gold Pearl. Additionally, she was placed in the G3 Ottawa S. and the Listed Debutant S.
Arabian Summer demonstrated her dominance in the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic | Image courtesy of Magic Millions (Michael McInally)
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Too Darn Lizzie showed ability by winning the Magic Millions 2YO Debut (Fillies) and placing in the G2 Reisling S. Superalloy placed in the G2 Sires’ Produce, while Silmarillion finished third in the G2 Reisling S., alongside Trembles, who placed in the Listed Without Fear S.
These accomplishments have catapulted Too Darn Hot to the top of the Australian First Season Sires’ table. With a month left until the end of the season and $2 million clear of second-placed Tassort, he looks assured to be crowned Champion. Incredibly, his progeny’s efforts also have him sitting second on the Australian 2-Year-Old Sires’ Premiership behind the Champion Sire Written Tycoon.
It should also be noted Too Darn Hot's exploits this season in Australia with his progeny accumulating $4,133,160 in prizemoney is a record that surpasses the earnings of all other first-crop sires in history. If awarded Champion First Season Sire, Too Darn Hot will also be the first British-bred stallion to wear that crown.
No doubt, many breeders were disappointed to hear the news, but the assumption is some will make the trip to Europe to visit Too Darn Hot’s court. Although Darley has not yet officially confirmed that the son of Dubawi will be available for Southern Hemisphere cover.
Popular as they come
Too Darn Hot covered 514 mares during his four seasons in Australia, with 121 mares visiting the son of Dubawi last spring. Among them were Winx’s (Street Cry {Ire}) winning half-sister Covent Garden (Exceed And Excel), G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) victress Enbihaar (Magnus), Western Australian speedster Fabergino (Maschino), Champion mare Jameka (Myboycharlie {Ire}), and Moonlight Maid (Puissance De Lune {Ire}), who won the G2 Edward Manifold S.
Darley supported Too Darn Hot with some top-class mares, including the blue hen Essaouira (Exceed And Excel), dam of triple Group 1 winner Alizee (Sepoy), Darley stallion Astern, who won the G1 Golden Rose, and the rising star Tassort, who has sired a Group 1 winner in his first crop and is sitting second to Too Darn Hot on the 2-Year-Old Premiership.
Too Darn Hot (GB) will not return to Australia for the 2024 breeding season | Image courtesy of Darley
Redoute’s Choice mare Yavanna, who produced Too Darn Hot’s stakes-placed filly Silmarillion, returned to the sire last season. Yavanna is also the dam of Godolphin’s cult horse Kementari, winner of the G1 Randwick Guineas and five other stakes contests. Additionally, she is the dam of the Listed winner Telperion.
Transfers (Street Cry {Ire}), who has produced three individual stakes winners, was also served by Too Darn Hot. She is the dam of G1 Spring Champion S. winner Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Listed winner Va Via (Astern) and Transformations (Exceed And Excel).
Darley boasts a treasure trove of blue-blooded mares in their broodmare barn, including Alizee, the recently retired Group 1 winner Zapateo (Brazen Beau), and Anamoe’s dam Anamato (Redoute’s Choice). It wouldn’t be unreasonable to speculate that Darley had plans to support Too Darn Hot with some beautiful mares this season.
Too Darn Hot (GB) in the paddock | Image courtesy of Darley
However, this is just speculation, and there has been no comment from Darley Australia on their plans or whether they will be sending mares to the Northern Hemisphere.
So why not Australia?
Popularity and attracting mares is clearly no challenge for Too Darn Hot in Australia. So, the question begs: why has he been pulled?
It's worth considering that Too Darn Hot has shuttled for four consecutive seasons and served large books. However, he has also been in high demand in his own backyard. Too Darn Hot’s debut book in the Northern Hemisphere included the dams of seven Group 1 winners, including the dam of Darley’s G1 The Derby at Epsom Downs winner Masar (Ire). He also covered as many stakes winners, their dams, or siblings as his sire Dubawi and Night Of Thunder (Ire) combined during their first seasons.
Much like in Australia, Too Darn Hot has capitalised on these opportunities in Europe. He has been represented by 12 stakes performers and nine individual stakes winners of 13 stakes races.
His star daughter, Fallen Angel (GB), showed her class by winning the G1 Moyglare Stud S. as a 2-year-old and followed that success with the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas this season. Additionally, she has the G2 Sweet Solera S. on her CV.
The same weekend Fallen Angel stunned in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, her paternal sister and stablemate Darnation (Ire) won the G2 German 1000 Guineas. She has also won the G2 May S. and the G3 Prestige S.
Other standout performers for Too Darn Hot in Europe include Etes Vous Prets (Ire), a stakes performer in Japan who won the G2 Hanshin Hochi Hai Fillies’ Revue, and Alyanaabi (Ire), who won the G3 Tattersalls S. at Newmarket and was placed in the G1 Dewhurst S.
Carolina Reaper (GB) is a victress of the G3 Baden-Baden Zukunfts Rennen, while Lava Stream (Ire), a Listed winner, was placed in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot.
Darley released in a statement, “Too Darn Hot will not shuttle to Darley Australia’s Kelvinside base for the 2024 season. Following nine straight seasons covering full books in both hemispheres, it has been decided to give the horse a break from shuttling.”
However, the question begs with Too Darn Hot kicking goals in both hemispheres, will he ever return to Australian shores?
We want your opinion!
Has Too Darn Hot simply become too valuable to shuttle?
| Yes | ||
| No |
