Group Treble for Too Darn Hot

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 22

It was a memorable day for Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot (GB), who delivered a Group race treble with Broadsiding, Shanwah and Tropicus.

Read about Broadsiding here.

Too Darn Hot (GB) kicked off Saturday with two new stakes-winners after his expensive three year-old Shanwah made it three wins in a row when taking out the Group II MRC Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield followed by Tropicus winning the Group III MRC Zeditave Stakes (1200m).

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Shanwah wins the G2 Autumn Classic - image Grant Courtney

Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Blake Shinn, he was given a positive ride and kicked away to win by a length and a half.

"He's a very progressive horse,” said Ciaron Maher.

"He'd come on a lot from his last two runs. Blake [Shinn] wanted to be forward. He rode him confident. I think he knew what he had underneath him. He's progressive so probably goes on now to a race like the Alistair Clark."

"You see him during the race. He just wants to relax. He tucks the head in, he looks like you'd be able to train him for any distance really."

"Kevin (Payne) had to stump up a little bit of money at the yearling sales so I'm glad he is starting to the rewards now."

Shanwah and the winning connections - image Grant Courtney

The 22nd stakes-winner worldwide for Too Darn Hot, Shanwah was a $750,000 purchase for Cameron Cooke Bloodstock from the Trelawney Stud draft at NZB Karaka Book 1.

Gelded after his first two starts, Shanwah runs for Kevin and Vikki Payne and has won three of seven starts earning more than $250,000 in prizemoney.

Shanwah is a half-brother to Group II winner Excelida, out of Iffraaj mare Lady Sayyida, a half-sister to the Champion racehorse and Cox Plate winning sire Ocean Park and also to the dam of Group I winner and sire Grunt and Group II winner Zayydani

His half-brother by Per Incanto is being offered by Trelawney at Inglis Easter as Lot 20.

Too Darn Hot quickly added his 23rd stakes-winner when the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Tropicus improved from his first up second in the Group III MRC Manfred Stakes to post his first stakes win.

Tropicus wins the G3 Zeditave Stakes - image Grant Courtney

The Kia Ora Stud homebred won on debut at Caulfield last May and has been only running in Group company since then and while unable to win had run some good races to keep his hat in the ring as a Black Type performer.

With blinkers and a cross over nose band, he was sent forward by Mark Zahra and ran out a comfortable two length winner.

Sam Freedman was confident this won’t be the last stakes win for Tropicus, who has several options ahead of him that include the Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap.

Tropicus is the best of two winners from Group III placed Exceed and Excel mare Extensible, a full sister to stakes-winner Cathay Lady.

Extensible had a filly last spring by Justify (USA) and is now in foal to Home Affairs

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Race Result - Stow Storage Autumn Classic Gr2 1800m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:49.79
1
Shanwah
- 3g Too Darn Hot (GB) x Lady Sayyida (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: B Shinn 57
2
1.5
Confetti Garden
- 3g Saxon Warrior (JPN) x Keeva (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: B Melham 57
3
1.7
Imperialist
- 3g Churchill (IRE) x Dancing Hare (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damian Lane 57
Churchill
4
2.9
Emphasize
- 3g Embellish (NZ) x Dancing May (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Craig Williams 57
5
3.2
Scary
- 3c Shocking (AUS) x Never Ever (NZ) (Reliable Man (GB))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: H Coffey 57
6
6.2
Entrusting
- 3c The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Believe Yourself (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M Zahra 57
7
7.7
Cecchetti
- 3c Fiorente (IRE) x Vandancer (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57
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