Too Darn Hot isn’t very big, or the most handsome and might not even have a great set of wheels.
What he does possess is a heart the size of an elephant and an ability to quicken that would make Mr Bolt blush.
His power packed display to win Saturday’s Dewhurst Stakes underlined that John Gosden’s colt is the real deal and next stop will surely be the 2000 Guineas.
We’d all love to see him in the Derby too, but plenty close to the Gosden yard are adamant the trainer does not want him to go down that route.
Word has it the problem that stopped him being sold as a yearling could prevent him handling the roller- coaster ride that is Epsom.
Time will tell, but this little colt has the sort of charisma that puts bums on seats and that’s a rare quality in this game.
Ryan Moore doesn’t waste many words but he whispered a few sweet ones about Sergei Prokofiev back in the spring.
Aidan O’Brien’s colt proceeded to behave like Kevin The Teenager in his races, pulling hard and generally making a nuisance of himself.
That all changed at Newmarket on Friday, where he was dropped back to 5f and came from last to first to destroy a strong field in the Cornwallis Stakes.
Donnacha O’Brien gave him a cahonas-of-steel ride and I’m told he was full of praise for the horse in the post-race debrief.
There isn’t a superstar sprinter on the grid right now and big Sergei could be ready to grab pole position in 2019.
Best bet horse on this card was Queen Power (12-1 to 4-1) who stuck her head out to win a division of the 7f maiden.
She’s a Plain Jane and certainly wouldn’t knock your eye out in the paddock, but several judges close to the yard reckon she’s the best of Ralph Beckett’s fillies which isn’t a bad recommendation.
Connections are eyeing-up a return to HQ for the Listed Montrose Stakes next month and she could be hard to beat there.
Make a note of John Gosden’s Duneflower who chased Queen Power home. She looks the part, ran a nailer after racing wide of the main group and should win next time.
Monday Magic
LILYPAD (9.15 Kempton) is less exposed than anything in this field and looks well treated on her handicap debut.
The punt of the weekend award goes to Mick Channon’s newcomer Chairmanoftheboard (8-1 to Evens) who won by eight wickets in the pouring rain at Goodwood on Sunday.
He was a few gallops short of hard-fit, will improve plenty and could just be the colt to push windmilling Mick back into the spotlight.
Jolly John Gallagher braved the weather at Goodwood and took a minute to tell me he’s expecting a bold show from Iley Boy (8.45) at Kempton tomorrow night.
He reckons the gelding was ring-rusty after a break last time and is at the right end of the handicap to run a big race.
There’s a competitive card at Kempton tonight as well, where Lilypad (9.15) looks a decent bet in a weak looking Class 6 event.
James Fanshawe’s filly is bred to be better than this – her dam was fourth in the Oaks – and must go close off bottom weight with Oisin Murphy doing the pushing.
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