On a massive day of racing across the nation, Ascot hosted the return of a number of upcoming WA summer carnival contenders in two feature races yesterday.
No appearance was more eagerly awaited than that of the Railway Stakes favourite King Of Light, but before the big chestnut strutted his stuff in the G3 Eurythmic Stakes, it was the turn of the equally impressive Hot And High to make her seasonal debut in the Listed RS Crawford Stakes at1200m.
Like King Of Light, Hot And High, the now four year old daughter of Too Darn Hot had tasted defeat just once in seven lifetime starts prior to yesterday - and that had been by a nostril in the Raconteur Stakes, a loss avenged by the Dion Luciani trained filly at her next start in the 1600m Listed Belmont Guineas.
Hot And High with Chris Parnham aboard went to post as a strong favourite for the RS Crawford Stakes.
Her main opposition in the field of ten were the very smart Playin’it Sweet (Playing God), a three time Listed 3YO winner last season, and the flying six year old Sessions mare Cessation, back from Kalgoorlie after running a brilliant second in the $1million Golden Saddle.
There is not much of her, but Hot And High is tough and game as they come!
Cessation sped quickly to the front as expected on jumping, with outsider Man Crush in second and Hot And High straight into third behind her. Playin’it Sweet sat directly on the favourite’s outside as the field sped down Ascot’s famous river side.
At the 600m Cessation for Jarrad Noske was setting a strong but even gallop. As they approached the home turn Parnham on Hot and High had to get to work briefly on the mare.
Cessation tried to break clear in the straight but Playinit’ Sweet was soon challenging on her outside while Hot and High was quickly building momentum on the rail.
As the post approached Hot And High was too strong, and she was half a length clear of her rivals at the finish.
20/1 roughie Awesome Boy ( Awesome Rock) unleashed a big turn of foot to grab second and Playin'it Sweet was third from a brave Cessation, who kicked on strong to hold fourth place.
Hot And High keeps her distance record and track record intact, kicking off her preparation in the best possible way with victory in the Listed R.S. Crawford Stakes. https://t.co/pHDzVPErdq
— Racing WA TV (@RacingWATV) October 17, 2026
Trainer Dion Luciani was relieved to see his young mare come away with the win, which takes her outstanding record to 8-7-1-0 and $457,160 in prize money.
“I thought we were in trouble, mid race. She just didn't travel well at all. Chris had to really dig her up before the corner to put her onto the bridle, and at the 400 I thought we were in big trouble” said Luciani.
“But at the furlong you could see, she had rallied, she'd got into her comfort zone, and she's just tough. She really finds under pressure, but for whatever reason today, she couldn't get into her rhythm. Chris balanced her up and got the best out of her anyway.”
“We had thought about a bit of headgear for this campaign, but she caught us off guard at the trials when she came out running and wanted to lead twice, which was uncharacteristic for her, so the last thing on our mind was putting any headgear on her!”
“Hopefully stepping up in distance to 1400m next start she will be in her comfort zone. All she can do is win and show a bit of grit and toughness to find the line, and she certainly ticked that box today”.
“The Railway is definitely her aim. We'll go to the Asian Beau (1400m) in a couple of weeks and a win or even place there should get her ratings up and get her into the Railway, but even better if she can win the next one!”
Jockey Chris Parnham was pleased with the gutsy first up effort.
“She's come a long way since her first win at Northam, but she's the real deal I think. She was under some pressure and the horse outside her was leaning on her a bit which she didn't appreciate, but she has picked herself up and was really good to the line. She was building through her gears and the last 100m of the race was her best.”
Luciani has always believed the little mare is a “natural miler.”
Hot and High is bred and raced by the renowned breeder Brett Fogarty of Cape Falls Thoroughbreds.
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.
High Conviction's 2021 colt Desert Waves (Pride Of Dubai) has won three races, and her 2024 filly by Zousain named Sarre Jewel is yet to race.
The mare visited Street Boss at Darley but missed, before producing a filly this season to his son Traffic Warden.
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 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 retain 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 the 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 sex balanced 4f x 5m to Storm Bird, and is also linebred to the Princequillo son Round Table.
A really neat bit of linebreeding in this pedigree involves Too Darn Hot's 5f x 5f cross of 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!
Too Darn Hot sired the 2026 G2 Karrakatta Plate hero Afireofgidgeecoals, also runner up in the WA Sires Produce Stakes - the progressive colt was a narrow second on resuming as a three year old last week.
Like Hot And High, he looks set to keep the sire’s name in lights on this side of the Nullabor!
Too Darn Hot stands at Darley NSW on a fee of $275,000
