Back in the G1 groove over the weekend in North America, Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot (GB) is back in Australia this spring and now has two Australian G1 winning sons at stud to follow in his footsteps in Broadsiding and Tropicus.
Too Darn Hot added an eighth lifetime Group I winner to his tally when progressive colt Glacius shipped from the UK for the Hugo Palmer stable to tackle the Group I Saratoga Derby (1 3/16thm) on turf.
Also in the field was another Too Darn Hot colt in Title Role, who had won the Group I Belmont Derby at his previous start.
A winner on debut at Newmarket last July, Glacius had not won since although had been placed in several stakes races with connections believing the Saratoga Derby could get him back on track.
Glacius was well rated in front and proved too good scoring by a length and a quarter over West End Kid with Title Role in third.
Glacius is a homebred for prominent Turkish businessman Ibrahim Araci and has two wins and three placings from six starts.
“He's been a frustrating horse. We always hoped he would be an Epsom Derby horse at home in England–but he just never came,” said Hugo Palmer.
“He had a winter coat right up until the middle of May. As a trainer, all you can do is sit on your hands. It's the most frustrating thing. It's the only job in the world where when something's wrong, you do less, not more.
“He eventually came to himself and started at Royal Ascot and has run very well twice in England, so this looked a great opportunity for him.”
Glacius is a half-brother to stakes-placed Al Jafara and is the best of three winners from well bred Fastnet Rock mare Predawn, a placed sister to Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify, the dam of multiple Group winner Qualificar.
Glacius is the 35th stakes-winner for Too Darn hot and is his eighth G1 winner.
Too Darn Hot stands at a fee of $275,000 this spring as he was last year when he covered a select book of 110 mares that included many of the best in the country.
His two G1 sons are priced more affordably with four time G1 winner Broadsiding to cover his second book at Darley NSW at a fee of $55,000, while G1 winning sprinter Tropicus makes his debut for Vinery Stud at a fee of $27,500.
