The $300,000 Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) is the third leg of the Darley Princess Series and the step up in trip was expected to present a challenge to some of these fillies at Randwick on Saturday, but not to the winner Bangkok Hottie.
The David Payne trained daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB) was second in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow and then won the Group II ATC Furious Stakes and retained her top form with another excellent effort.
She was super professional for Kerrin McEvoy, striding across to sit in second place behind the leader Rachini, who opened up a break turning for home.
Bangkok Hottie was in hot pursuit with a furlong to run and duly struck the front and kept going to win by nearly a length over the unlucky Striking Alibi with Global Goal closing late for third.
The first three all seem likely to meet for a rematch in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) on October 3.
The David Payne stable has been in great form this spring.
“I hope it keeps going. We didn’t want her that handy, but the way the track was playing, I said to Kerrin (McEvoy), ‘I’m leaving it to you’. And he does the right thing,” said David Payne.
“I wish she could get a decent draw where she could be covered up. Maybe in the Flight Stakes, hopefully.”
Kerrin McEvoy has ridden Bangkok Hottie in her past three starts.
“She was quickly into stride, but I was a little bit worried when that horse (Sequinned) came up on our outside. Got her a little bit fired up at the half way mark,” he said.
“Just let that thing (Rachini) go in front knowing I was going to run it down and that is exactly what she did.”
A homebred for John Thompson and his family, Bangkok Hottie has the overall record of four wins and two placings from seven starts with prizemoney in excess of $560,000.
She is the first winner for multiple Group placed Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Bangkok, who has a 2YO colt by Too Darn Hot.
She missed the following season and has already foaled this spring producing a colt by City of Troy (USA).
