European champion Too Darn Hot retired after injury

Too Darn Hot, the champion 2-year-old male of Europe in 2018 and the winner of consecutive Group 1 races in July, has been retired after recently undergoing surgery for a hairline fracture in the cannon bone of a rear leg, according to a statement issued by owner Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Watership Down Stud.

Too Darn Hot emerged from the surgery without complications and is scheduled to stand at Dalham Hall Stud in England next year.

“I am glad to say that he has come safely through surgery,” Simon March, racing manager for Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd-Webber, said in a statement.

“The injury is not life-threatening and he should make a full recovery.”

By Dubawi, Too Darn Hot was considered a prospect for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November until the surprise announcement of his retirement.

Trained by John Gosden, Too Darn Hot won 6 of 9 starts and was unbeaten in four starts at 2, ending the season with a win in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October.

A splint bone injury prevented Too Darn Hot from a start in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in early May. Too Darn Hot finished second in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at 1 5/16 miles at York on May 16 in his first start of the year and was beaten in his next two starts – a second in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas on May 25 and a third in the Group 1 St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 18.

Too Darn Hot won his final two starts – the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at seven furlongs at Deauville, France, on July 7 and the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on July 31.

The injury was detected following the win at Goodwood, Too Darn Hot’s only start against older horses.