Gunning for Goodwood: Too Darn Hot 'in the right place' for Sussex showdown

Too Darn Hot takes on his elders for the first time in the Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood next week where a convincing win would see connections consider a possible tilt at the Breeders' Cup Mile in November.

The son of Dubawi made a welcome return to winnings ways when dropping in trip to 7f in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville last time and is expected to be suited by the easy mile on Wednesday week.

After an interrupted spring which meant he had to miss the 2,000 Guineas, Too Darn Hot was beaten on his first three starts this year before his trip to France where he accounted for Space Blues.

Gosden, who revealed that his other Sussex Stakes entry King Of Comedy would miss the race in favour of an engagement in France next month, said: "It's been well publicised the mea culpa that we've had with Too Darn Hot but I think he showed in France what he's good at as he's a very quick horse.

"Before that we stupidly tried to stretch him out off a severely interrupted preparation which meant him missing the 2,000 Guineas."

After watching the three-year-old limber up on Warren Hill, he added: "I think we've got him in the right place now and I was most impressed with how he hit the line strong over seven in the Jean Prat. His best trip is probably seven, seven and a half or an easy mile which is why we're going to the Sussex."

Later on in the autumn, Lord Lloyd-Webber's colt is entered in the Haydock Sprint Cup and could get an opportunity to run in the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot in October but Gosden is already looking beyond that.

Too Darn Hot is generally 11-10 market leader for the Sussex Stakes and Gosden added: "I'll be watching the draw with nervous eyes as we don't want to be drawn out in 12 at Goodwood as you've no chance from there but I think the two-turn mile will suit him as would a similar layout in the States where he could end up in the Breeders' Cup Mile [at Santa Anita]."

The opposition at Goodwood could include the consistent Lord Glitters, whose trainer David O'Meara said: "He's had a good few weeks since the Queen Anne and will go to the Sussex Stakes.

"Ascot probably suits him a bit better than Goodwood, but he ran well in the race last year when he was a shade unlucky to be third beaten two lengths. He'll be going up against the three-year-olds, the likes of Too Darn Hot and King Of Comedy, but he's been running at a high level for a long time and we'd be hopeful he can go there with another good chance."

Stradivarius (Paul Hainey) tackles Warren Hill this morningCredit: Chris Bourchier

Gosden will field a familiar face in the opening day's Group 1 feature, the Qatar Goodwood Cup, in which Stradivarius will try to become the first horse to win the two-mile marathon three times in a row.

Double Trigger is the only horse to win the Cup three times but he missed a year through injury when scoring in 1995, 1997 and 1998.

The chestnut kicked off another bid to win the £1 million stayers' bonus when scoring tidily on his return at York in May and was even more impressive when following up in the Gold Cup at Ascot.

Gosden suggested that Stradivarius could even be better this year as he heads for a rematch with Ascot second Dee Ex Bee and fourth-placed Cross Counter.

He said: "I was always told that a Flat racehorse is at his or her zenith at five years of age which is where we are with Stradivarius. It's hard coming back in trip from two and a half miles at Ascot to two miles at Goodwood but I don't think they went as hard early in the Gold Cup as they did last year so that has perhaps taken a little less out of him. We'll give it another go and he goes there in very good shape after working nicely at the weekend."

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