Ascot has played host to a remarkable crop of three year olds this season and another potential superstar was unveiled yesterday.
The undefeated Hot And High by Darley supersire Too Darn Hot scorched the turf to record a scintillating three length demolition job in the Listed Sir Ernest Lee- Steere Classic (1400m( at just her third race start.
The exciting filly has made a swift progression from easily winning her maiden at Northam in late October, to bolting in a midweek race at Belmont earlier this month, to earning blacktype on one of Ascot’s biggest days.
Hot And High was the hottest of favourites and with Lucy Fiore aboard she bounced out of the gates straight to the head of proceedings with Ninetymilestraight and Flying Frankie (both by Flying Artie) in close attendance.
Pure Silver (D’Argento) was up there racing ungenerously as the field sorted themselves out and the pace slowed.
Lanfranco (Xtravagant) and Riva Aquarama (Star Turn) settled behind the leading group with Snitzalatte (Snitzel) and Mardusa (Maurice) beyond midfield
Second favourite and Placid Ark runner up Sherpa Express (Blue Point) went right back with only the bolter Major Flirt (Rommel) behind her.
Ninetymilestraight and Sean O'Donnell took up the running before the 1000m with the favourite parked on her outside, Pure Silver third still pulling her head off and Flying Frankie in fourth.
As the field thundered around the turn the two leaders had broken away by two lengths and they entered the straight side by side but Hot And High was about to find a gear her rival didn't possess.
The filly burst away from them with breathtaking acceleration and it was game over in a couple of strides. She went to the post under hands and heels by three lengths. with Ninetymilestraight sticking on gamely for second.
Sherpa Express flew down the outside late to take third by a nose from Lanfranco in a good go for the minor money, but the winner was simply in a class of her own.
Even trainer Dion Luciani was surprised at the ease with which his star three year old put them away.
“She is very exciting this filly.
She was hard to watch in running, because she looked like she wasn't going to accelerate the way that she did” said the trainer.
“ Even before the corner, when Lucy gave her a tap on the shoulder to say it's time to wake up…. but then she just seems to really find another gear under pressure. She Looks like she's going to give you half a length and she gives you three.
I genuinely believe she's a miler, and even further - because of her heart rates, her lung capacity, even at trackwork she is not a short, sharp, point to point speed horse.
She feels like she does on raceday, she doesn't kick off the corner but she seems to just build into it.
She's an exciting filly and there's no reason she couldn't go all the way. She will go straight to the paddock now and there is a really nice series of races which lead up towards the Oaks next year.
Obviously at some stage we'll find a distance that is too far for her, but I'll chat with Brett ( owner breeder Brett Fogarty) and we'll come up with a plan together.”
For star hoop Lucy Fiore the win gave her back to back wins in the Lee-Steere Classic after she rode Cashel Palace to victory in 2024.
“ It’s not fun” (getting down to 53 to ride the filly) admitted Fiore,
“but definitely worth it!”
“From a midweek Belmont to this it's such a massive step up. I wasn't really where I wanted to be, it was windy out there today but she managed to switch off.
She is very versatile, and that turn of foot was amazing - especially from where she sat!”
Hot and High is bred and raced by the renowned breeder Brett Fogarty of Cape Falls Thoroughbreds.
She becomes the 15th stakes winner for Dubawi's great son Too Darn Hot and advances her record to three starts, three wins and earnings of $139,930.
She is the third foal, second to race and first winner /stakes winner from the beautifully bred Snitzel daughter High Conviction, a winner of 3 races and unplaced just once in her 6 starts.
High Conviction's unraced 2019 filly Sealpha by Sebring is retained by Cape Falls, while her 2021 colt Desert Waves (Pride Of Dubai) has had two starts
Following Hot And High's arrival in 2022 the mare missed to Yes Yes Yes before producing a 2024 filly by Zousain then unfortunately missing to Street Boss.
High Conviction is one of nine named foals from the brilliant Paris Petard (WATC Gimcrack Stakes LR, Belgravia Stakes LR, G3 Sires Produce Stakes) a daughter of Danzig's G1 Dewhurst Stakes winning son Mujahid, whose best progeny was the 4 x G1 winning sprinter Danleigh.
Paris Petard was retired from breeding in 2020. Her daughter Paris Cracker (Viscount) owned by Oakland Park Stud, is dam of the durable stakes winning sprinter miler Saloon Bar (Sessions)
Oakland Park sold Paris Petard as part of a 30-mare dispersal through the 2011 Perth Magic Millions Autumn Sale, and she was picked up for $100,000 by Cape Falls Thoroughbreds.
Cape Falls retains her remaining daughters, the winners Seeking Alpha (Pierro), Parlons (Lonhro) and High Conviction.
Paris Petard's dam Nitrate was a Newcastle maiden winner producing only three foals but they were Paris Petard, her half sister by Seignorial, Paris Heart a good producer, and the handy performer Zentrate (Zentsov Street).
Nitrate by Paris House was a half sister to G1 winner Arkady and multiple stakes producer Arkadina from the Marscay daughter Briscay.
This damline goes back to taproot mare of family 1-c Mustard, through Fair Duchess GB 1876 who was imported into Australia.
Mustard's dam Morel is also the ancestress of the breed shaping sire Princequillo.
Hot and High is bred
Danzig x 5m,4m
Her dam High Conviction is bred 4f x 5m to Storm Bird, and is also linebred to the Princequillo son Round Table.
A notable factor of this pedigree is Too Darn Hot's 5f x 5f inbreeding to Blue Hen Sunbittern - a grand daughter of the great broodmare sire Herbager, who was himself bred x 2 to Firdaussi.
Firdaussi is from the 1-c family of Princequillo and of Hot And High herself.
The future shines bright for Hot And High!
Too Darn Hot stands at Darley NSW on a fee of $275,000
