Toronado

The Frankie Lor-trained Stormy Grove (Toronado) came from a long way back to cause an upset in Sunday's HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin, showing a serious turn of foot to stamp his authority on the contest and register a one-length verdict. Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) was second, with another half a length back to Patch Of Cosmo (Super Seth) in third. Favourite Little Paradise (Toronado), who had kicked off the Four-Year-Old Classic Series with an impressive success in the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, could finish only...

The Jimmy Ting-trained Little Paradise ran out an impressive winner of Sunday's HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile at Sha Tin, emphatically defying stamina doubts as he forged clear in the final furlong to land the spoils by two lengths. Infinite Resolve (Snitzel) finished second, with another half a length back to the former Joseph O'Brien trainee, Beauty Bolt (Night Of Thunder), in third. "Today, he relaxed very well," said winning rider Vincent Ho. "Once I pressed the button, he just kicked it. He finished off very well, so he can...

by Renee Geelen/TTR AusNZ A stronger clearance rate and plenty of demand at the top end led to a record gross, hitting over A$19 million, at Thursday's Inglis Ready2Race Sale. The gross was A$19,054,000, up 22% from 2024's A$15.607 million aggregate. The average was A$156,180 (-5%) and the median was unchanged at A$100,000. Of the 163 lots offered, 122 sold (75%). A record 64 lots realised A$100,000 or more (up from 50 last year) while 39 sold for A$200,000 or more (up from 28 in 2024). The leading buyer was...

Toronodo has been withdrawn from covering duties at Swettenham Stud for the remainder of the Southern Hemisphere breeding season. The decision was taken on veterinary advice after the stallion suffered from lameness caused by a significant infection. "Toronado has played a huge role in the history of Swettenham, as well as in the Victorian industry, and we really see him as part of our family," said Adam Sangster, principal of Swettenham Stud. "His health and wellbeing come first to everyone at the farm, so this was a straightforward decision. "We...

Haras de Montaigu completed its full set of topping both days of the Osarus September Yearling Sale in La Teste de Buch when selling a Toronado (Ire) filly for €40,000 to John Hammond. Already named Acqua Rosa (Fr) and offered as lot 154, the April-born filly is out of the four-time winner Rose Tea (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), a half-sister to the G2 Prix Greffulhe runner-up Handsome Devil (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). The clearance rate picked up a little throughout the second session, settling overall for the two days at 62%....

DEAUVILLE, France--One last six-figure yearling was added to the list on Thursday when trainer Joel Boisnard went to €130,000 for a Toronado (Ire) colt from Haras de l'Hotellerie to top the third session of Arqana's October Yearling Sale. A half-brother to two black-type performers, lot 434 is a son of the Prix de Diane place-getter Diyakalanie (Fr) (Ashkalani {Ire}) and was bred by Haras de Sainte Gauburge. Boisnard already trains two of his half-siblings, including Diyashal (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}), who was won over fences and hurdles since the catalogue was...

Cheltenham is behind us and, yes, we still have Aintree and Punchestown to come of the major jumps fixtures but, with the clocks on the turn, really the only thing to think about now is the return of the Flat. The turf season makes its staggered return in Ireland on Sunday, and in Britain the following Saturday. France is already racing ahead and packed in four stakes races at Saint-Cloud last Saturday, with the Listed Prix Omnium II providing the first TDN Rising Star on the European turf for 2023...

4th-Chantilly, $29,000, Debutantes, 2-6, 3yo, c/g, 8f (AWT), 1:39.82, ft. MR MOLIERE (GB) (g, 3, Kingman {GB}--Armande {Ire} {GSW & G1SP-Fr, $222,116}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}). O-Baron Edouard de Rothschild & Lady O'Reilly; B-SC Ecurie de Meautry & Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-M. Guyon. Horseracing is a game of old. Appropriately, there is so much from the 17th and 18th centuries in the pedigree of Chantilly demolition winner Mr Moliere (GB). "Monsieur Moliere" for the French race commentator, evidemment. Moliere was the stage name of Jean-Baptiste...

Runner-up to stablemate Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) when setting a lively tempo in last year's GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S., Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) was the recipient of a beautifully rated ride from Manny Franco and proved not for catching while besting fellow Chad Brown trainee Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) by 3 1/2 convincing lengths. Pace-compromised Gufo (Declaration of War), the 9-4 favorite, reprised his third-place finish from a year ago with a belated rally. Tribhuvan, whose front-running chances were done no damage when the typically prominent Channel...

Benoit Jeffroy's Haras de Castillon, a burgeoning force on the French racing and bloodstock scenes, burst into international prominence in December when it consigned the Group 1-winning Grand Glory (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale, where she sold for €2.5-million. The quickly growing Castillon has only been in existence under its current guise since 2015, but the Jeffroy family has a history of breeding quality racehorses from their SCEA des Prairies, with just one recent example being Zelda (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), a listed winner last...

Four days of selling in Deauville wrapped up on Tuesday with the single-session v2 Yearling Sale, back from a pandemic-necessitated hiatus in 2020. From 129 offered, 96 yearlings were sold at a clearance rate of 74.4%; it was 79% in 2019. With 14 fewer sold, the aggregate dipped 28.6% to €2,912,500. The average was down 18.2% to €30,339, while the median dropped 20.9% to €24,500. Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency signed for the joint top lots at €140,000, a filly by Toronado (Ire) and a colt by Mehmas...

Since Al Shaqab Racing's first foray into racehorse ownership, the organization has grown exponentially with strong investment in bloodstock globally. The company has built an impressive stud farm at Haras de Bouquetot, which houses its nine-strong stallion roster as well as playing host to a broodmare band that includes dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) and multiple Group 1 winner Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) to name a few. However, it may be Al Shaqab's investment in personnel that sees the company thrive and...