Too Darn Hot comes through key workout ahead of Newbury return
Qipco 2,000 Guineas favourite Too Darn Hot sailed through a key workout on the grass in Newmarket on Saturday morning before his intended Classic warm-up in the Group 3 Watership Down Stud Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
Generally an even-money chance for the colts' Classic on May 4, Andrew Lloyd Webber's hope was back on turf for the first time since rounding off his unbeaten juvenile campaign in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October.
Watch: Unbeaten colt Too Darn Hot maintains his unbeaten record in the Dewhurst Stakes
Ridden by regular work-rider Maisie Hainey, the son of Dubawi moved up to his very own lead horse Whitlock with his trademark turn of foot at the close of a seven-furlong exercise on the Limekilns round gallop.
Gosden said: "It was nice to get Too Darn Hot back on grass and the round gallop. It was open much earlier than usual – it was riding to perfection.
"I was going to get Frankie [Dettori] in to ride him out, when no doubt he would have gone six lengths clear, but Maisie did all that was needed. It was just routine work, but Too Darn Hot is where we want him to be."
He added: "The plan is to run at Newbury and it's soft at the moment, which would be fine, but what you don't want is it to go heavy as it can get pretty testing down there in those circumstances."
On Friday, the first day of the two-day card at Newbury, Gosden intends running Turgenev in the 1m2f conditions stakes, which he has farmed over the years, winning with Western Hymn (2014), Star Of Seville (2015) and Shutter Speed (2017).
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Published on 7 April 2019inNews
Last updated 18:04, 7 April 2019
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