What Too Darn Hot and Ten Sovereigns' pedigrees say about their Classic claims

Too Darn Hot has a pair of high-class siblings who, even if unlikely to have an identical genetic heritage, can serve as a guide to what we can expect in future from Saturday's authoritative Solario Stakes winner.

Both Musidora Stakes winner So Mi Dar and last month's ten-length Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes scorer Lah Ti Dar are also by Dubawi, an outstanding miler who appeared to find 1m4f too far when third to Motivator in the Derby, out of Dar Re Mi, who landed three Group 1 contests over 1m2f and 1m4f at four and five.

There are signs that Too Darn Hot might have inherited a different combination of genes from his parents than So Mi Dar and Lah Ti Dar in that, although he shows those siblings' class, he is proving more precocious than them; even stepping down in distance after his maiden success over a mile to take the Solario over 7f.

So Mi Dar, successful on her sole start at two in October, and Lah Ti Dar, unraced as a juvenile, take more after their dam, who ran once at two when second in a Newmarket maiden held in November.

Dar Re Mi was cleaving to family values in her racing career as she is by the middle-distance maestro Singspiel, who peaked in form at four and five, out of Prix Vermeille winner Darara, a half-sister to Prix du Jockey Club hero Darshaan. Darara also produced the 1m2f or 1m4f Group 1 winners Darazari, River Dancer and Rewilding.

Too Darn Hot's early ability, then, might instead be attributed to Dubawi, who was unbeaten in three runs between the June and September of his juvenile season.

If he continues to prove more in the mould of his Irish 2,000 Guineas-winning father in terms of racing ability, it heightens the belief that he could be a force over a Classic mile next year.

What is really exciting is that the abundant stamina that Dar Re Mi contributed in the mating means he could be equipped for a dual Classic challenge on Newmarket and Epsom.

How far does Ten Sovereigns go?

It is no wonder Ten Sovereigns rocketed up betting lists for the 2,000 Guineas after storming to a wide-margin victory in the Round Tower Stakes on Saturday. But will a son of the sharp and speedy No Nay Never out of a mare by another top-notch sprinter in Exceed And Excel really have the requisite stamina for a Classic mile?

Precocious and popping with raw power, No Nay Never won the Norfolk Stakes and Prix Morny at two and was tried over as far as 7f once at three, but was headed a furlong from home after racing prominently and finished a tame second.

No Nay Never is out of a winner over an extended 5f at two and is a brother to Inland Sea, a dual winner over 6f for Richard Hannon; but he is by the phenomenal Scat Daddy, who despite being best known as a source of two-year-olds and sprinters – think Acapulco, Caravaggio and Lady Aurelia – stretched out to win the Florida Derby over 1m1f in his own racing career and has a Belmont Stakes winner in Justify on his progeny record.

Overall, though, you might think that No Nay Never's progeny would need an injection of stamina from their dams to stay further than sprint distances.

And there is comfort to be drawn from the maternal pedigree of Ten Sovereigns, despite having Exceed And Excel as broodmare sire. He is a half-brother to a winner over a mile in Spain, while his dam Seeking Solace was a 1m2f winner on heavy ground in France and was Listed-placed over a furlong further.

Seeking Solace is in turn a half-sister to Godolphin's useful 7f performer Flash Fire and she is out of Flamelet, a daughter of middle-distance influence Theatrical who was a head second in the Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial over a mile.

So Ten Sovereigns might derive the stamina to excel over a mile from the distaff side of his family, complementing the speed imparted by No Nay Never.

It would still be rather surprising if by the end of the Flat season we have not seen his trainer Aidan O'Brien unleash a promising two-year-old with more cast-iron pedigree claims – by Galileo, presumably – even if they do not win as flashily in Group company.

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