Three year-old racing is taking off in Europe as the warmer weather returns and while the A graders will take their place in Guineas races this weekend there are plenty of others quietly on the rise and we saw a few in action at Newmarket overnight.
The Listed King Charles Stakes (7f) at Newmarket delivered a new stakes-winner for Too Darn Hot (GB), who returns to Australia this spring for Darley at a $110,000 fee. The Roger Varian trained Boiling Point scored by three quarters of a length at his second run this year.
“Boiling Point nearly won a Group Three here at the end of last year. He has got away with it today, but he will be better on good to firm ground. He has looked like he needed every yard of it today. I need to speak his owner Sheikh Obaid but he has had two quick runs now and I would quite like to put him away and wait for the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. The stiff seven furlongs there should suit him and I thought all through the winter that it could be the race for him,” said Roger Varian.
A homebred for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Boiling Point is the best of two winners from Lady Momoka, a placed half-sister by shamardal to Group III winner Stellar Mass and stakes-winner Marzelline.
He is the seventh stakes-winner for Too Darn Hot.
The Listed Newmarket Stakes (m2f) was won by Sea the Stars three year-old Caviar Heights, who scored a dominant four length win at his second run of the year.
Racing in the same colours as Boiling Point, but trained by Karl Burke, Caviar Heights will look towards better races with Derbies a possibility.
“He was relishing a step up in trip and the extra furlong has helped today. Cliff (jockey) says he will stay further. I am not sure where we'll go with him next. I'll speak to Sheikh Obaid. He is in the Dante but I'm not sure Sheikh Obaid will want to go there as it comes pretty quick and he doesn't like to run his horses close together. He has a good constitution ? all he does is eat and sleep,” said Karl Burke.
A 300,000 guinea purchase from Tattersalls October Yearlings Book 2 Sale, Caviar Heights is the first winner for Group III placed Acclamation mare Cava, a sister to multiple Group winner Hitchens.
He is the 119th stakes-winner Aga Khan Studs outstanding sire Sea the Stars, who also had a super impressive debut winner in the first race on the card at Newmarket.
William Haggas and Tom Marquand combined with three year-old filly Sea Just in time, who cantered in on debut in a maiden event over 1m2f and holds entries for upcoming Oaks races.
“We always thought she was nice and is well-rated, being a sister to Truthful and we had the older sister as well (Sea On Time) who sadly injured a tendon after winning a maiden when she looked nice. There is no rush to decide where she goes next, I'll leave that to William. I think she probably needs three weeks before she runs again and we could look for a Listed contest for her. There are lots of things later in the year like the Irish Oaks,” said Maureen Haggas.
A homebred for Sunderland Holdings, Sea Just in Time is the third winner from unraced Street Cry mare My Timing, a half-sister to stakes-winner Beau Ideal from Group III winner Lay Time with the fourth dam on the page being champion mare Time Charter, a four time Group I winner.
