Toronado on his way with first Australian winner

The winner of six of his 12 starts and remembered for stirring battles in Group One races with the likes of Kingman, Dawn Approach and Charm Spirit, the Swettenham Stud shuttler Toronado has made a great start to his stud career in the northern hemisphere. Siring 26 first crop winners in Europe, the handsome bay was represented by his first Australian winner on January 31, his second local runner Powertrain impressing his trainer Paul Messara with a gutsy debut victory at Scone; headed close to home before fighting back.

Proving popular in the sales ring with his progeny selling for up to $340,000, Toronado has youngsters in strong stables around the country, purchased by the likes of Hawkes Racing, Robbie Griffiths, Yulong, James Bester, Paul Moroney and Ciaron Maher. Toronado has a lovely group of yearlings at the upcoming Inglis Melbourne Premier and they are bound to again attract plenty of attention. Such as lot 61, the first foal for the Group One placed Teofilo mare Bahamasor, as well as lot 74 from the immediate family of the Hong Kong star Green Birdie.

Also of interest to Hong Kong buyers will be lot 378 out of a half-sister to the Hong Kong Champion Sprinter Grand Delight and lot 482, a half-sister to the promising Mangione out of a half-sister to the Hong Kong stakes winner Rich Unicorn.

The first foal for the Group Three winner Chabaud (lot 103) is another of interest as is lot 108, a 3/4 sister to the South African two times Listed winner Chevauchee. Others with black type under the first dam are lot 146, a half-brother to the Listed winner Blondie and lot 246, a half-sister to last season’s juvenile stakes winner Lady Horseowner.

Lot 525 is out of the Group Three placed multiple city winning proven broodmare White Hart Lane, a daughter of Flying Spur (noting that seven of Toronado’s first winners have Danehill in their dam line) who has already been represented by five winners including the stakes winner Lucky Penny. Lot 653 is a daughter of the popular Adelaide Cup-Gr2, 3200m winner Lacey Underall whilst lot 188 is the first foal for the dual city winner Flying Hostess.

This one carries Mr Prospector duplications as do 15 (including four stakes placed) of Toronado’s winners to date. With Powertrain being out of a Redoute’s Choice mare (line-bred to that great stallion’s prolific fourth dam Best In Show), lot 208 will have fans being out of the city placed Redoute’s Choice mare Gypsy’s Best, a half-sister to the stakes winners Taikun and Super Groove.

Close relations to the stakes winners Emerald Jack, Vormista, Malaguerra, Seabrook, Nicconi and last year’s Melbourne Cup-Gr.1, 3200m hero Cross Counter are others worth a look as is one very close to this writer’s heart; my very first venture into commercial breeding! Lot 773 is the first foal for our lovely mare The French House who is part owned by some very enthusiastic first time breeders who are very much looking forward to heading to Oaklands.

A flashy chestnut, this strong filly boasts duplications of the great mares Natalma, Somethingroyal, Doubly Sure, Mixed Marriage and Relance and we have high hopes that she will have inherited the considerable natural ability of her dam who was close up and most unlucky in the two Listed races she contested before injury curtailed her promising career. n