midst the frost and bitterly cold weather, January always brings intrigue and curiosity to racing industry, with the excitement of new life around the corner. There has been understandable anticipation in the Watership camp with the imminent arrival of Too Darn Hot’s #NewDarnFoals!
Too Darn Hot covered an outstanding book of mares during his first season at Dalham Hall in 2020, including the dams of seven G1 winners notably Masar, Lord North and Quorto. He covered as many stakes winners, their dams or siblings as his sire Dubawi and Night of Thunder covered combined during their first seasons. With such a quality book of mares covered, we have plenty to look forward too.
We were delighted to welcome the first reported foal, by the unbeaten European champion two-year-old and multiple G1 winning three-year-old, on January 12th at New England Stud, out of the dual G3 winning mare I’m So Fancy. Peter Stanley commented, ‘he is a lovely, quality foal with a great outlook. If all Too Darn Hot’s look like this, he will be a very exciting young stallion’. Congratulations to breeders Lael Stable.
We didn’t have to wait long until news broke of a filly at Childwickbury Stud, out of another G3 performing mare, Eirene. Max Weston added, ‘we are thrilled with her! The mare goes back to Too Darn Hot this year.’
It’s early days, but it looks as though Too Darn Hot is stamping his stock, passing on his formidable genes hailing back to Darara and the recognisable, elegant head so commonly seen in the Dar Re Mi family.
The very end of January (31st) saw the arrival of our first homebred Too Darn Hot foal (pictured). An outstanding colt, out of Rainbow Quest mare Kelly Nicole, which makes this colt a three parts brother to G1 performer, Aljamaaheer. He fills the eye and has a fantastic physical. We couldn’t have asked for more.
Too Darn Hot’s foals are clearly impressing breeders at this early stage, which couldn’t be more promising for the young stallion. Julian Dollar of Newsells Park commented on his filly foal out of Shamardal mare Secret Sense. ‘This is a big, strong filly with plenty of size and scope. She’s inherited scope from her dam and strength and muscle from Too Darn Hot & Dubawi. Too Darn Hot also seems to have blessed her with an attractive head. We’re delighted with her’.
David Miles, Managing Director at Old Buckenham Stud was ‘very impressed’ with his Too Darn Hot colt foal, out of G3 performer Mia Diletta, which makes this colt a half-brother to Poeta Diletto. ‘I believe he will become an imposing individual’.
Simon Marsh commented; “All of us at Watership Down Stud are delighted with what we have seen and heard of the first few foals by Too Darn Hot. He seems to be stamping his stock and they appear to have the look of the family going all the way back to Darshaan. He has a fantastic book of mares for 2021 and has been full since Christmas, which is a great testament to him and the whole Darley team.”
Fitting with the family, full sister to Too Darn Hot, Lah Ti Dar foaled a beautiful filly by Siyouni on January 28th. Across the stud, we have welcomed a handsome Dubawi colt foal out of Bjorn Nielsen’s King’s Best mare, Bufera and over in Ireland, an impressive individual by Darley’s first season sire, Blue Point was foaled. A strapping filly, bred by Stonethorn Stud Farm out of black type mare, Drumfad Bay. The first foal from the mare sold last year at Tattersalls Book 1 for 280,000 guineas to notable judge, Angus Gold on behalf of Shadwell.
Keep an eye on our social platforms Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see all out new arrivals!
Photo of Kelly Nicole with her Too Darn Hot colt foal, taken 8th February 2021.
