Too Darn Hot, Persian King both plan to skip English 2000 Guineas

The English 2000 Guineas is coming up too darn quick for Too Darn Hot.

The Cartier 2-year-old champion of 2018 in Europe was favored all winter long to win the Guineas on May 4, but after being forced out of an intended prep race last weekend in the Craven Stakes, Too Darn Hot now is out of the Guineas itself, his connections revealed over the weekend.

The Guineas early-betting market was thrown into further flux with the news that Persian King, the sharp winner April 14 of the Prix de Fontainebleau at Longchamp, was all but certain to stay in France for the French 2000 Guineas rather than shipping to Newmarket for the English fixture. Trainer Andre Fabre said it would take exceptionally wet weather at home (Persian King prefers firmer going) to motivate a change of plans and race in England next month.

Aidan O’Brien-trained Ten Sovereigns, who could struggle to get the straight mile at Newmarket, now is the early fixed-odds betting favorite for the 2000 Guineas. O’Brien also trains the well-supported Magna Grecia while Craven Stakes-winner Skardu has come in for considerable Guineas support as well.

Too Darn Hot, owned by Andrew Lloyd Weber, injured a splint bone while training for his 3-year-old debut. The issue is improving, trainer John Gosden said over the weekend, but Gosden is out of time to make the Guineas. He said Too Darn Hot could race next in the Dante Stakes at York or the Irish 2000 Guineas.