THE joint champion three-year-old miler in Europe in 2013, Toronado was a group winner in each of his three seasons in training, scoring in six of his 12 starts and being placed second three times. This son of High Chaparral retired to the National Stud at Newmarket in 2015 and he has at least 10 group-winning mares tested in foal to him in that first season, when he was so popular that he covered 152 mares.
Toronado’s sire High Chaparral was one of the best sons of Sadler’s Wells, winning five Group 1 events including the Epsom and Irish Derbies and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He has sired about 75 blacktype winners, 15 of which were successful at Group 1 level. Among them are Free Eagle and Australian stars So You Think, Dundeel and Shoot Out.
Wana Doo, the dam of Toronado, won twice in France and she is a half-sister to Casamento who carried off the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy, the Group 2 Beresford Stakes and the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange and is now a stallion at Dalham Hall. He has his first two-year-olds running this season. Their dam Wedding Gift was a listed winner in France and her grandam Regal Lady was a half-sister to Vaguely Noble, winner of the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and sire of such stars as Dahlia, Exceller and Empery (Epsom Derby).
Toronado was unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, scoring in a minor race at Newbury and the Listed Winkfield Stakes at Ascot, before ending his first season with a win in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
In 2013 Toronado was purchased for Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, but remained in training with Richard Hannon. He began that season by winning the Group 3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket from Havana Gold, then was fourth in the Group 1 2000 Guineas and second in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, both won by Dawn Approach.
However, in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood he took his revenge on Dawn Approach, beating him by half a length in a time faster than Frankel had recorded in either 2011 or 2012, with Declaration Of War third. Timeform’s Racehorses of 2013 rated Toronado the best horse in training in England or Ireland on 133.
Continuing in the same vein in 2014, Toronado did not reappear until Royal Ascot, where he comfortably won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes in fast time. He was second to Kingman in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes and to Charm Spirit in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, before Sheikh Joann retired him to the National Stud.
Jt Champion 3yr old colt in Europe in 2013. Jt Champion 3yr old miler in Europe in 2013. Won six races, £754,081, from 6½ furlongs to 1 mile, at 2 to 4 years including, Qipco Sussex Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.1, Queen Anne Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, One Call Insurance Champagne Stakes, Doncaster, Gr.2, Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.3, Carraig Insurance Winkfield Stakes, Ascot, L, also placed second in Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, Longchamp, Gr.1, Qipco Sussex Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.1, St James’s Palace Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1.
Retired to stud in 2016; first crop now foals.
Stands at: National Stud, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 0XE, England.
Contact: Brian O’Rourke or Amy Taylor or Jake Warren (01635 253212)
Telephone: +44 (0) 1638 663464 or 675929
Email: stallions@nationalstud.co.uk
Website: www.nationalstud.co.uk
Fee: £15,000 (October 1st),SLF.