Hot And High made amends for a last-start loss in the LR Raconteur Stakes (1400m) with a victory that confirmed her class at black-type level in the LR Belmont Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
Hot And High (3f Too Darn Hot – High Conviction by Snitzel) had been unbeaten in six starts prior to the Raconteur but that setback faded into the background when she dived late to nail Prince Of Dala (Snippetson) right on the line in the Guineas.
Perennial pacemaker Castle Road (Safeguard) ensured quick sectionals that stretched out a capacity field to the best part of 15 lengths coming off the river side. Well-placed into the straight, Hot And High shouldered into the clear at the expense of Westbound (Toronado) and then collared Prince Of Dala who was being hailed the winner moments earlier.
“She’s still raw and we’ve believed all the way through that she would be a miler,” trainer Dion Luciani said. “I thought she was under the odds today ($2.60) but she was right up to the mark and that’s the true Hot And High.”
A homebred for Cape Falls Thoroughbreds owner Brett Fogarty, Hot And High is from the second southern-crop of Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot (Dubawi). Fogarty bought her Group 3-winning second-dam Paris Petard (Mujahid) from Oakland Park for $100,000 at the 2011 Perth Magic Millions Autumn Sale.
Hot And High (Yellow Cap / Photo: Western Racepix) had opened her Listed account in the Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) last December and her connections are looking forward to another Pinnacles campaign at Ascot later this year.
“She dug deep today and is definitely a summer horse,” Luciani declared. “Brett and I discussed whether to give her extra time spelling and come back for the mares series or make it a quick turnaround for the better races. That win proves she good enough to target the better ones.”
