Too Darn Hot’s Bangkok Hottie builds Princess Series streak

Too Darn Hot’s rising star Bangkok Hottie has strengthened her credentials as one of the best three-year-old fillies in Australia with a second straight G2 win, adding the Tea Rose Stakes (1,400m) at Randwick to her victory in the Furious Stakes (1,200m) two weeks ago.

Trainer David Payne has stepped Bangkok Hottie through the Princess Series with a sense of perfect timing, progressing from her second in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes to back-to-back wins in the next two legs.

Payne’s eye is firmly on the Group 1 Flight Stakes, the crescendo of the fillies’ series, in two weeks’ time.

“I hope (her good run) keeps going. We didn’t want her that handy (in the run), but the way the track was playing, I said to Kerrin, ‘I’m leaving it to you’. And he does the right thing,” he said.

“I wish she could get a decent draw where she could be covered up. Maybe in the Flight Stakes, hopefully.”

Kerrin McEvoy’s proactive ride saw Bangkok Hottie in the right spot to seize control of the Tea Rose when early leader Rachini faded at the 200-metre mark.

She took the lead inside the furlong and never looked like being chased down, despite second-placed Striking Alibi closing the gap to three-quarters of a length on the line. Pinatubo’s Global Goal also finished strongly, claiming third.

Bangkok Hottie is a homebred for breeder John Thompson out of the stakes-placed Medaglia d’Oro mare Bangkok. She has now won four of her seven starts.

Her victory continued an exceptional start to the Australian season by the progeny of her sire, with three stakes winners and five stakes victories. A champion Australian second-season sire in 2024/25, Too Darn Hot has 18 stakes winners in total in Australia, while he has 38 globally.