Too Darn Hot to Contest Prix Jean Prat at Deauville

John Gosden is eyeing the July 7 Qatar Prix Jean Prat (G1) at Deauville for Too Darn Hot with the belief the conditions of the race will be ideal for last season's champion 2-year-old.

Too Darn Hot has struggled for stamina in three outings this season, finishing second in the Al Basti Equi World Dante Stakes (G2) and Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) before a third-place effort in the June 18 St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. 

The Prix Jean Prat will be run over seven furlongs for the first time this year—having been staged over a mile since 2005—and Gosden believes the step back in trip will suit the son of Dubawi, who won the Darley Dewhurst (G1) at that distance last season. 

Speaking Sunday, the trainer said: "Too Darn Hot worked very nicely yesterday morning and the plan is to go for the Prix Jean Prat. I think we've been running him beyond his trip. The stiff mile of the Curragh, the stiff mile of Ascot, and an extended mile and a quarter at York. I've made it very clear that I think we got it wrong with this horse this year and hopefully the straight seven furlongs will suit him, as I think an easy mile would.

"He's a very fast horse. He's quick and his best races were the Dewhurst and the (Howcroft Industrial Supplies) Champagne Stakes and I think it's about time we played to his strengths."

Looking further ahead, Gosden pinpointed the Aug. 11 Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1) as another potential French target for Too Darn Hot.

That would mean a return to a mile for Lord Lloyd-Webber's colt, but the Deauville track is much easier in comparison to the Curragh and Ascot. Gosden won the group 1 event with Kingman in 2014.

"I'd still come over a mile at Deauville," Gosden added. "He's basically very quick and Frankie says he's a speed horse. We got it wrong trying to stretch him out and we learnt the hard way. He had the race won at Ascot and ran out of stamina. But too much speed is no bad thing."