Tropicus Makes it Nine for Too Darn Hot

Mark Smith - Saturday May 11

Kia Ora Stud homebred Tropicus made a winning debut in the Catanach's Jewellers Hcp (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday to ring up the ninth Australian winner for leading first crop stallion Too Darn Hot (GB).

Impressive debut (image Racing Photos)

Ridden by Daniel Moor for Anthony and Freedman, Tropicus launched down the centre of the track from midfield to defeat the honest topweight Stromberg (Strasbourg) by a half-length, with Just For Show (Showtime) a length back in third.  

Sam Freedman expects Tropicus to scale the heights.

"The pleasing part was he spat the bridle out at the 500m then really picked up and chased the line," Sam Freedman said.

"He has shown us he has way more off the bridle than on. It is often the reverse, where you have horses cruising and don't find much.

"He was challenged at the top of the straight and had to dig into his reserves, but he was strong on the line.

&quo

t;It’s not easy to win in town on debut. We are mindful that he is a horse going places with a bright future.

“We are thankful to Kia Ora for their support. Brett Cavanagh had him early as a yearling and gave him a good rap.

Advertisement

“The spring comes up early, so there is a chance we will put him out and aim for a Coolmore.”

Tropicus is the second winner from as many to race for the talented Exceed And Excel mare Extensible.

A multiple metropolitan winner and stakes-placed in the Group III Angst Stakes, Extensible is a sister to Listed Belle Of The Turf winner Cathay Lady and a half-sister to My Sugar, Group Iii placed in Hong Kong, and Dineeta, the dam of stakes-winner Cutadeel.

Tropicus looks very smart (image Racing Photos)

Extensible was a $360,000 purchase for Avenue Bloodstock at the 2022 National Broodmare Sale carrying a Wootton Bassett filly that would sell to Griffiths De Kock Racing / MDK International for $150,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

After foaling a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt last spring, Extensible was covered by Justify (USA).

Too Darn Hot (GB) leads the first season sire title for earnings and winners and joins Headwater for the number of 2yo winners.

The son of Dubawi stands for $110,000, up from $44,000, at Darley Stud next spring. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Catanach's Jewellers Hcp 1100m

Caulfield Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:04.89
1
Tropicus
- 2c Too Darn Hot (GB) x Extensible (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: D Moor 54.5
2
0.5
Stormbourg
- 2g Strasbourg (AUS) x Graceful Storm (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: J F Moloney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 57
3
1.5
Just For Show
- 2c Showtime (AUS) x Justine (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: H Coffey 55.5
4
2.5
Too Darn Discreet
- 2f Too Darn Hot (GB) x Maybe Discreet (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Dan O'Sullivan Rdr: Declan Bates 54
5
4
Denial
- 2g Impending (AUS) x La Lova (AUS) (Street Boss (USA))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: Zac Spain 54.5
6
4.8
Sociable
- 2g Yes Yes Yes (AUS) x Workdrinks (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jordan Childs 54.5
7
5.8
Bridal Waltz
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Charleston Dancer (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
8
15.8
She Nailed It
- 2f De Gaulle (AUS) x Let's Nail It (AUS) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: Tim Hughes Rdr: D Yendall 54
More Reading...
More Stakes Success for Impending - Cool Memory Wins Listed Farnley
A son of Larneuk Stud's value Lonhro stallion Impending, five year old Cool Memory bolted in to claim his second stakes win and bring joy to favourite backers on a rain-drenched Saturday at Belmont Park.
Manikato Target For Tropicus
One of two stakes winners on the day for Darley’s Too Darn Hot at Caulfield, the impressive Group 3 MRC Heath 1100 (1100m) victory of Kia Ora’s Tropicus has connections set to target the stallion prospect at Group 1 races.
Pericles Turns Back the Clock
Six year-old Street Boss (USA) gelding Pericles won the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) two years ago in 2023 when trained by James Cummings and he repeated the effort at Randwick on Saturday, but this time he is in the care of Bjorn Baker.
Ones to Watch – Bendigo
At this time of year, you tend to take special notice of well-bred 3YO debut winners and three of them arrived at Bendigo on Sunday that were all interesting for different reasons and none more so than one who has a name that has become infamous this year.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 7
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Haydock Sprint Cup Upset
Wathnan Racing were expecting to win the Group I Haydock Sprint Cup (6f) overnight with short priced race favourite Lazzat, but the best he could manage was fifth behind progressive three year-old colt Big Mojo.
Ka Ying Rising Straight to Everest Quarantine after Return Romp
Hong Kong Champion Ka Ying Rising was headed straight to quarantine to prepare for the Group I The Everest after another stunning performance when resuming for the new season on Sunday at Sha Tin.
Pedigree Watch – 3YO Plus That G1 Late Bloomer
Saturday delivered another exciting instalment of early spring racing with three stakes races for 3YO’s and once again all of them were won by new first time stakes-winners that were virtually unsighted at two and we also had a new G1 winner, whose path to the top has been anything but smooth.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 6
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Derby Dreaming for Crown of Russia
Danny O’Brien already has one promising winner by his former G1 star Russian Camelot (IRE) in the stable in Censori and on Sunday at Bendigo he unleashed another.