Too Darn Hot continues Dettori's super summer with Sussex Stakes victory

Too Darn Hot made an emphatic return to a mile with victory in the Sussex Stakes under jockey-of-the-moment Frankie Dettori.

Sent off at even-money, the three-year-old reversed the form by half a length with St James's Palace Stakes conqueror Circus Maximus, who finished second, with 14-1 shot I Can Fly edging past Happy Power for third.

"He's shown his class and proven his two-year-old form is solid," said trainer John Gosden. "We will work back from the Breeders' Cup Mile, which is a quick mile and suits seven-furlong horses."

Too Darn Hot could stick to a mile in the Prix Du Moulin at Longchamp in September, but still holds an entry in the Haydock Sprint Cup over six furlongs.

It was an 11th Group 1 victory since May 31 for Dettori, who said: "I told John I'll probably need a heart transplant by the end of the week. He said: 'Shut up - you love it!'

Frankie Dettori Group 1 winners 2019

May 31: Oaks - Anapurna
June 19: Prince of Wales's Stakes - Crystal Ocean
June 20: Gold Cup - Stradivarius
June 21: Commonwealth Cup - Advertise
June 30: Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - Coronet
July 6: Coral-Eclipse - Enable
July 7: Prix Jean Prat - Too Darn Hot
July 20: Irish Oaks - Starcatcher
July 27: King George - Enable
July 30: Goodwood Cup - Stradivarius
July 31: Sussex Stakes - Too Darn Hot

"I couldn't feel my arms he was so keen. He's got so much natural speed but still managed to get a mile. He deserved to win a proper Group 1 – we all thought he had it in him."

Paddy Power introduced Too Darn Hot as 2-1 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October, while the son of Dubawi was shortened to 5-2 from 4-1 by Sky Bet for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

This race report is being updated and more news will follow shortly.