In times past, many a racing tragic would have nursed a sore head at Wallabadah on New Year’s Day.

With his service fee pushed to $110,000 in Australia this spring, Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot (GB) was on the board overnight with the first stakes-winner from his second crop in the Northern Hemisphere with promising filly Hot Darling taking out the Listed Prix des Reves d’Or Jacques Bouchara (1000m) at Vichy in France.