By Tom Frary
Coming off a Curragh maiden success last month, the Silverton Hill Partnership's Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}–Azenzar {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was on top at the end of Leopardstown's G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes to provide the Jessica Harrington stable with a double on Thursday. Settled in the wake of the Ballydoyle pace-setter Swagman (Ger) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) throughout the early stages, the 100-30 second favourite was sent upsides that rival by Shane Foley at the furlong pole and asserted to score by 1 1/2 lengths, with another 2 1/2 lengths back to Ballydoyle's 5-6 favourite Surpass (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) in third.
Hotazhell, who had been fourth on debut in the course-and-distance maiden won by this race's absentee Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), had improved to break his maiden when Swagman was third last time and that form proved the benchmark here.
Harrington, whose Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) had landed the card's opener, said of the winner, “He quickened up well, they went a good old gallop the whole way. He's tough and he'll probably just have one more run this year.”
“He had to do it the hard way because he had to go and catch the pacemaker and then go away from him. Shane was thinking the other horse would come to him and take him along, but it didn't and he had to go and commit. He'll go a mile, probably even this year. I don't think we'll go to the [G1] National Stakes, I'd say we'll wait for something over a mile in September. We've got two nice milers and we'll keep them well apart!”
Aidan O'Brien said of the ultimately disappointing favourite Surpass, “Ryan thought he should have sat second and was on the back foot the whole way as a result. He said he didn't feel he got a clear shot at it and it just didn't work for us on the day.”
Pedigree Notes
Hotazhell's dam Azenzar, whose yearling colt is by No Nay Never, hails from the family of the high-class Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away {Ire}), successful in two editions of the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes, the G1 Prix de l'Opera, G1 Hong Kong Cup and G1 Nassau Stakes. Also in the family is Medecis (GB) (Machiavellian), winner of the G3 Prix de la Jonchere and runner-up in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix de la Foret.
Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TYROS STAKES-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 7-25, 2yo, 7f 32yT, 1:32.53, g/y.
1–HOTAZHELL (GB), 131, c, 2, by Too Darn Hot (GB)
1st Dam: Azenzar (GB), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Dashing (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Renashaan (Fr), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (70,000gns Ylg '23
TATOCT; 200,000gns 2yo '24 TATBRE). O-Silverton Hill
Partnership; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB);
T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €30,000. Lifetime Record:
3-2-0-0, $46,093. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Swagman (Ger), 131, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Secretina
(GB), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK
TYPE. (€170,000 Ylg '23 BBAGS). O-Michael Tabor & Derrick
Smith & Mrs John Magnier; T-Aidan O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Surpass (Ire), 131, c, 2, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Blending (GB),
by Medicean (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
TDN Rising Star. (240,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE). O-Derrick
Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-James Wigan
(IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 1HF, 2HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 3.30, 8.00, 0.83.
Also Ran: Beckman (Ire), Mano Chicago (Ire). Scratched: Scorthy Champ (Ire).
🔥 Hotazhell 🔥
The son of Too Darn Hot is a two-year-old going places and scoops the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes for @Jessica_Racing at @LeopardstownRC. A good day at the office for the trainer & Shane Foley. pic.twitter.com/I9KSHOpsVx
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 25, 2024
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