Toormore is Europe’s Top-Rated Juvenile

TOORMORE IS TOP RATED JUVENILE 
Middleham Park Racing and James Pak’s Toormore (Ire) (Arakan) was named Europe’s Champion 2-Year-Old Colt when the British Horseracing Authority released its 2013 European 2-Year-Old Classification yesterday. With a rating of 122, the unbeaten G1 National S. winner tops G1 Racing Post Trophy victor Kingston Hill (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) at 120, as well as G1 Prix Morny winner No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) and G1 Dewhurst S. winner War Command(War Front), who both achieved 119. Toormore becomes the first European Champion 2-Year-Old for former trainer Richard Hannon, who handed his license over to his son and former assistant Richard Hannon Jr. Jan. 1. 
The top filly on the classification is GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and G1 Fillies Mile winner Chriselliam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) at 117. She is followed in the female category by G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Vorda (Fr) (Orpen) at 114 and G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) at 113. 
Matthew Tester, BHA Senior Handicapper responsible for 2-year-olds, said: “Toormore improved markedly with every race, and there is no reason to think that he has peaked. The champions of the last six years went on to win seven Classics and 26 Group 1s. We are shaping up for a really exciting 3-year-old season.” 
“122 is not an exceptional figure for a champion,” he added. “Dawn Approach (Ire) the previous year was 124, and in recent times we have seen 126-rated champions like Frankel (GB), New Approach (Ire) and Dream Ahead, but 122 is a very satisfactory figure for such a relatively unexposed horse.” For a full list of the European 2-Year-Old Classification, CLICK HERE.

Middleham Living The Toormore Dream… 
Edited From PA Sport 
   Middleham Park Racing, one of the UK’s fastest-growing ownership groups, reached new heights yesterday when its Toormore (Ire) (Arakan) was crowned Europe’s Champion 2-Year-Old after receiving a rating of 122 from the British Horseracing Authority. Toormore became the group’s first winner at the highest level when last seen in The Curragh’s G1 National S. Sept. 15, and the colt, unbeaten in three outings, has been the realization of a dream for his owners since being purchased for £36,000 at the Doncaster August Yearling Sale two years ago. 
  “It’s a bit of a miracle, to be honest,” Middleham Park Racing Manager Tim Palin told PA Sport. “I still can’t quite believe it. When you think how many yearlings go to the sales, you’ve probably got a one in 10,000 chance of getting a champion. Then you think most of the best ones go for £500,000, £1 million or £2 million, so to get a champion for £36,000 is virtually impossible. It just shows that relatively small owners like us have got a chance. Maybe they should have announced he was the champion juvenile on December 25, as that’s the time of year when miracles are meant to happen!” 
   Toormore, now trained by Richard Hannon Jr., is a best-priced 10-1 for the G1 2000 Guineas May 3. Palin said that he visited the colt at Hannon Jr.’s yard just before Christmas, and found that he has strengthened since his last run. 
   “He looks absolutely magnificent,” Palin said. “We haven’t given him a break as such. He’s just been ticking over and everyone is very happy with him.” 
   Palin noted that Toormore would likely head straight to the Guineas without a prep, unless his riders felt he should do otherwise. 
   “If that’s the case, he would probably go for the [G3] Greenham S. at Newbury [Apr. 12], but at the moment we’re leaning towards going straight for the big one at Newmarket. He’s a very clean-winded horse and it’s a long season. We still want him to be a the peak of his powers in October.” 
   Palin said Toormore may try longer distances at a later stage, but he is keen to see his charge first establish his dominance at a mile. 
   “Looking at his pedigree, you would have to think his optimum trip will be a mile,” Palin said. “He could probably operate at either side–we might want to try a mile and a quarter at some stage–but at the moment we want to establish him as the best at a mile. I think we can safely say he won’t be running in any kind of Derby, be that the English or the French.”