Too Darn Hot's unbeaten run ended by Telecaster in the Dante Stakes

Undefeated juvenile champion Too Darn Hot met with the first defeat of his career when outstayed by Telecaster in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York. Although bred to stay the trip, and more, the colt's stride frequency is more that of a miler and it seems likely that it will be over that distance that he continues his career. Telecaster, on the other hand, should be suited by 12 furlongs.

Oisin Murphy was on board the Hughie Morrison-trained bay, a colt winning for the second time in just three starts. The son of Dalham Hall Stud stallion New Approach (by Galileo) did not begin his career until late March of this year when he chased home Bangkok in a ten-furlong Doncaster maiden, and he followed that with a nine-length score over the same trip at Windsor just over two weeks later.

Telecaster holds entries in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes and Group 1 Coral-Eclipse but will have to be supplemented if he is to tackle either the Group 1 Investec Derby or Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

His pattern win was achieved by a margin of one length from Too Darn Hot, who was eased near the finish when his chance was gone, and there was a four-length gap back to the third, Surfman. That first-crop son of Kingman stayed on well to earn his pattern-race placing and had the Irish raider Japan three-parts of a length behind in fourth.

The most disappointing performance among the eight runners was that of Line Of Duty. Godolphin's colt won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on his final start at two but was never dangerous here on his seasonal debut and came home seventh, 11 lengths behind the winner.

What a finish!
Telecaster holds off Too Darn Hot to take the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes in fine style for Hughie Morrison and @oismurphy
??@ABE_Dubai pic.twitter.com/fNJApwWDzz

— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 16, 2019

Telecaster was bred by Meon Valley Stud and was a buy-back when offered during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. He is the second foal of his dam, is a half-brother to a middle-distance winner, and by the sire of last year's Derby hero, Masar.

It was a bit of a surprise that his dam, Shirocco Star (by Shirocco), had just a maiden win to her name from 13 starts as she was a racehorse of considerable talent. She was only beaten a neck by Was in the Group 1 Investec Oaks, chased home Great Heavens in the Group 1 Darley Irish Oaks and Sapphire in the Group 2 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, was a short-neck runner-up to Dalkala in the Group 2 Qatar Prix de Royallieu, and short-headed in a listed contest at Newbury. She was also third in both the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes and Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes.

The mare is out of 12-furlong scorer Spectral Star (by Unfuwain) and that half-sister to Group 3 winner and Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas second France (by Desert Prince) is a daughter of Hyperspectra (by Rainbow Quest). That winning half-sister to dual ten-furlong Group 3 scorer Poet (by Pivotal) is out of Hyabella (by Shirley Heights), a stakes-winning half-sister to Group 2 winner and Group 1 Coral-Eclipse runner-up Stagecraft (by Sadler's Wells).

This means that the fifth dam of Telecaster is the classic-placed Group 2 winner Bella Colora (by Bellypha). That half-sister to Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes star Cezanne (by Ajdal) and Group 1 Irish Oaks heroine Colorspin (by High Top) – the dam of Group 1 stars and successful stallions Kayf Tara (by Sadler's Wells) and Opera House (by Sadler's Wells) – is a daughter of Meon Valley Stud's Group 3 Lancashire Oaks scorer and hugely influential mare Reprocolor (by Jimmy Reppin).

It remains to be seen just how good Telecaster will be at his peak, but there is every reason to hope that he can become another top-level winner for both his sire and his famous family.