Too Darn Hot Retired After Career-Ending Injury

Last year's European champion juvenile Too Darn Hot has been retired Aug. 5 after sustaining a career-ending hairline fracture of his right-hind cannon.

Connections believe the three-time group 1 winner suffered the injury during his recent success in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) at Glorious Goodwood last week.

The John Gosden-trained Too Darn Hot, who won six of his nine starts and never finished out of the first three, underwent surgery at the Newmarket Equine Hospital.

"Too Darn Hot has undergone emergency surgery to his right-hind cannon after X-rays revealed a hairline fracture," said Simon Marsh, Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd Webber's racing and bloodstock manager. "I'm glad to say that he has come safely through surgery. The injury is not life-threatening, and he should make a full recovery.

"His future now lies at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket where he will recuperate and stand at stud for the 2020 season.

"The Lloyd Webbers and I are very sad we won't see this champion on the racecourse again. He has given us all so much excitement winning three group 1 races over the last 12 months, culminating in his brilliant win last week in the Qatar Sussex Stakes."

Too Darn Hot drew comparisons to the great Frankel during his 2-year-old campaign, in which he won all four starts, including a first top-level success in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (G1).

International handicappers shared that view, awarding Too Darn Hot a rating of 126 in January—the same figure given to Frankel and Dream Ahead at the end of the season in 2010.

A setback in the spring ruled Too Darn Hot out of a tilt at the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) in May, and he suffered his first defeat when he finished second to Telecaster in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (G2) at York later that month.

Two placed efforts in top-level company followed—a second to Phoenix of Spain in the Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and a third behind Circus Maximus in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot—before Too Darn Hot returned to the peak of his powers on what has proved his final two starts.

The son of Dubawi routed the Qatar Prix Jean Prat (G1) field, scoring by three lengths at Deauville before prevailing by half a length over Royal Ascot foe Circus Maximus at Glorious Goodwood five days ago.

The Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) was pinpointed as a main target later in the season following his victory at the West Sussex track under Frankie Dettori, who partnered Too Darn Hot throughout his career.