Too Darn Hot to take Frankel route of Greenham prep on way to 2,000 Guineas

Too Darn Hot is to take the Frankel route to the Qipco 2,000 Guineas in May by using the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury on April 13 as his intended warm-up for the Newmarket Classic.

Fittingly, the unbeaten son of Dubawi part emulated Frankel by landing the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes when last seen at Newmarket in October and was subsequently rated his juvenile equal by a panel of international handicappers.

After a trouble-free winter of trotting at Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket, Too Darn Hot has been out cantering with the rest of the John Gosden team on the Warren Hill all-weather facilities this week, in company with his new lead horse Whitlock.

Too Darn Hot walks off the gallops after exercising up Warren HillCredit: Edward Whitaker

In 2011, Frankel used the Group 3 Greenham Stakes as his trial for the 2,000 Guineas in which he famously ignored his lead horse Picture Editor before going onto score by four lengths from Excelebration to justify odds of 1-4.

Frankel was the last winner of the Newbury trial to follow up on the Rowley Mile, although Night Of Thunder, runner-up to Gosden's Kingman in 2014, went onto reverse the form at Newmarket.

Gosden said: "Too Darn Hot is fresh and well and we are pointing towards the Greenham with him. Newbury comes before the Craven meeting this year, which is unusual, but affords us a bit more time for recovery before the 2,000 Guineas itself. It rarely goes that way but Easter is very late this year."

Before his Dewhurst romp in which he accounted for Group 1 winner Advertise and top Irish colt Anthony Van Dyck, the Andrew Lloyd Webber-owned colt had embarked on his unbeaten spree with back-to-back wins at Sandown, including the Group 3 Solario Stakes. After that, Too Darn Hot ran out an impressive winner of the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

Frankel v Too Darn Hot as juveniles

Too Darn Hot matched Frankel's achievements at two, earning an official rating of 126 in four unbeaten starts. Here's how the two champion juveniles powered through their respective first seasons.

Frankel

Beat Nathaniel half a length in Newmarket maiden (RPR 95)

Beat Rainbow Springs 13 lengths in Doncaster conditions stakes (RPR 115)

Beat Klammer 10 lengths in Group 2 Royal Lodge at Ascot (RPR 125)

Beat Roderic O'Connor two and a quarter lengths in Group 1 Dewhurst (RPR 126)

Frankel and Tom Queally storm clear to win the Dewhurst at NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker

Too Darn Hot

Beat Roland Ward seven lengths in Sandown maiden (RPR 94)

Beat Arthur Kitt four lengths in Group 3 Solario at Sandown (RPR 118)

Beat Phoenix Of Spain a length and three-quarters in Group 2 Champagne Stakes (RPR 117)

Beat Advertise two and three-quarter lengths in Group 1 Dewhurst (RPR 126)

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