,

Toronado Setting Record Pace in 2025

The Straight – Bren O’Brien 

At the weekend, Spirit Of Boom and So You Think became the fifth and sixth Australian stallions so far to register 100 individual winners for the 2024/25 season. It is a historically high number for this time of year. Run The Numbers digs into the background of this trend.

Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom is the fifth Australian stallion so far to register 100 individual winners for the 2024/25 season. (Photo: Eureka Stud)

When Blake Shinn picked his way through the field to salute aboard Mighty at Sandown on Saturday, it represented a milestone 100th winner of the season for Spirit Of Boom.

It was far from the Eureka Stud stallion’s first seasonal century – he has now reached that mark in each of the past five Australian seasons, but he had never reached the milestone so early, just six months and one day since 2024/25 got underway.

It puts Queensland’s leading sire well ahead of pace to better his previous seasonal mark of 149, achieved in 2022/23. In that season, by early February, he had 81 winners. His century would not arrive until March 8.

Spirit Of Boom has had eight two-year-old winners, the most of any sire in Australia, and 20 three-year-old winners, with the vast proportion of his winners being four and over (72). Given that sire’s own race profile, it is not surprising to see his horses training on past their classic year.

 

He is not the only stallion on record pace in 2024/25. Swettenham Stud’s Toronado recently brought up his century in record time. He currently sits third when it comes to total Australian winners with 106. At the same point last season, he had 77, while two years ago it was only 59.

His rise, in terms of the volume of winners, has been one of the under-the-radar trends of the 2024/25 season. He remains on track to easily eclipse his previous overall seasonal best for Australian winners of 145, set last season

His total runners have also increased significantly, 212 at this point last season as compared to 273 currently, as he benefits from the big books he received in 2019 (197) and 2020 (210).

Unlike the four others to have reached the century mark this year, Toronado has had no assistance from his current two-year-old crop, only one of which has hit the track. A total of 27 of his winners are from his three-year-old crop while 79, including his three stakes winners in Australia this year, are four and older.

Unsurprisingly given it is where he is based, the majority of Toronado’s winners have been in Victoria, with 62 individual horses represented, 59 per cent of his overall total.

What is a quirk is that the most successful trainer in Australia this season when it comes to the progeny of Toronado has been Queensland-based Tony Gollan, with seven wins from two horses led by Torabella, who registered her fifth win of the season at Doomben on Saturday.

Less startling is that Gollan is also the most successful trainer of the progeny of Spirit Of Boom this season, with 23 wins from 18 individual horses across 2024/25 to date. Of Spirit Of Boom’s 100 Australian winners, 81 have been in Queensland.

 

So You Think became the sixth sire to notch the century of Australian winners when So Nataya won at Bunbury on Sunday. It is his seventh straight season of breaking that barrier, but by far his quickest ton, as he chases down his seasonal best of 149.

The other three stallions to have reached the century are familiar names, I Am invincible, Zoustar and Written Tycoon.

It is the seventh season in a row that I Am Invincible has reached the 100-winner mark by the halfway point of the season. He is currently on 123, which is 13 more than he had at this point of last season when he finished with 175.

Zoustar is on 121, nine fewer than he had halfway through last season when he equalled I Am Invincible’s record mark of 208 winners. Both have had slightly fewer runners – Vinnie 287 compared to 294 and Zoustar 298 compared to 300 – to the same point.

Both are trying to chase down Pride Of Dubai – currently on $17.2 million progeny earnings – for the Australian sires championship, with Zoustar on $14.5 million and I Am Invincible on $12.1 million.

Fourth overall, and fourth when it comes to winners, is Written Tycoon.

The Yulong resident has 105 Australian winners, which is nine more than he had at the same point of last season, although in the four previous seasons before that, he had cracked the century by halfway through the campaign.

Written Tycoon’s number of Australian runners has increased by around 10 per cent from 249 to 276 so far this season. All that growth has been from his current three-year-old crop, conceived during his one season at Arrowfield. His three-year-old runners to this point of the season have grown from 54 to 86 and his winners from 21 to 39.

Swettenham Stud’s Toronado currently sits third on the table of total Australian winners this season with 105. (Photo: Sweetenham Stud)

As far as our records go back, there has never been a season where six stallions have surpassed 100 Australian winners by this point. Last season to this point, it was three, while it was two in the previous five seasons before that.

Deep Field (92), Snitzel (92) and Capitalist (91) are all poised to mark the milestone soon, while Better Than Ready, who had five individual winners across Australia on Saturday, is on 87, as is Dundeel.

Leading sires by Australian winners 2024/25

*Data Courtesy of Arion

View the full article https://thestraight.com.au/run-the-numbers-the-growing-band-of-sire-centurions/

 

/by
,

Savvy Broodmare Investment Delivers $400,000 Toronado Colt for Daandine

Breednet.com – Tara Madgwick – Tuesday January 7

Queensland farm Daandine Stud have bred and sold a lot of good horses including Golden Slipper and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winning sire Capitalist and a mare they purchased at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale in 2023 for $250,000 produced a great result for them on Tuesday at the Gold Coast.

$400,000 Toronado (IRE) colt from Write the Score. $400,000 Toronado (IRE) colt from Write the Score.

Lot 103, a flashy chestnut colt by Toronado (IRE) from Write the Score caught the eye of all the good judges and was duly knocked down to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $400,000.

He is the first foal of young Written Tycoon mare Write the Score, who was purchased on the advice of Boomer Bloodstock in foal to Toronado with the star colt the result of the mating.

Write the Score was bought for $250,000 at MM National Broodmare Sale.

Write the Score was bought for $250,000 at MM National Broodmare Sale.

From the family of Group I winners Yell, Microphone and Holler, Write the Score had no foal last year after missing in 2023, but is now in foal to Russian Revolution.

/by
,

Autumn G1 ambitions for Somewhere?

Racing.com – Darcy Cosgriff, 04/12/24

 

Archie Alexander has Group 1 autumn ambitions with Somewhere, who will go for a break after a bold third in last Saturday’s G2 Sandown Guineas.

The son of Puissance De Lune made a big impression on debut at Ballarat and lost zero admirers stepping straight up to Stakes level at start two.

Settling midfield under John Allen, Somewhere was stuck behind a wall of horses when the sprint came on around the bend, but let down superbly once in some daylight.

Even without the clearest passage home, the gelding flashed home to pinch third on the line and while there is a natural element of frustration after the luckless run, Alexander was delighted with Somewhere’s big effort.

The Ballarat-based trainer said that Somewhere had come through the run well, but had certainly left everything on the track and will now head to Nagambie for a spell.

“He’s good, but you know he’s had a race, he tried so hard. He slept well on Saturday night and he did us really proud,” he said.

“There’s always a little frustration when you don’t win, just with the way the race turned out. Johnny (Allen) did nothing wrong, he had him in a nice spot, we just never got the smooth run we needed.

“But to go from a maiden to a Group 2 and run that well, we were chuffed. He’ll go back to Gerry Ryan’s farm tomorrow for a little break.”

 

 

Nothing is yet set in stone but, on the limited evidence available, Alexander said the G1 Australian Guineas could be a suitable target next campaign.

Though Alexander expects Somewhere to get slightly further over time, he is keen to see what he can do over a mile on the spacious Flemington track.

“We’ll bring him back in the autumn with no solid plans, but you’d think maybe the Australian Guineas at Flemington might be a good goal,” he said.

“He’s probably looking for a bit further than the mile – the 1800-2000 metres might be where he ends up – but a big track and a solid mile would really suit him.”

Alexander will likely have two runners for his local cup meeting on Saturday, with Prince Eric in the McKellar Mile and Bizot in the VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade (1200m).

Prince Eric will be second-up in Australia after a solid third in the Donald Cup, while Bizot has had a slight freshen up after two Stakes runs, including a third placing at Caulfield two back.

“Hopefully it’s a good day, only two runners, but two horses that should go really well,” he said.

/by
,

Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run

Breednet.com – Thursday November 21

Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.

Leung paid $400,000 under his Magus Equine banner to buy Lot 271, a Russian Revolution colt from the draft of Ohukia Lodge, then followed that up with a $625,000 purchase of Lot 288. The latter colt was offered by BMD Bloodstock and is by Toronado out of the Zabeel mare Attractive, who is a half-sister to Gr.1 Goodwood Handicap (1200m) winner Velocitea.

Francis Lui and Willie Leung at Karaka Photo: Ange BridsonFrancis Lui and Willie Leung at Karaka Photo: Ange Bridson

“I rated that colt one of the best horses in the sale,” Leung said. “Toronado is going very well in Hong Kong, and it’s great to secure such a high-quality son of that stallion for Francis (Lui, trainer).”

Toronado stands at Swettenham Stud for a service fee of A$88,000. He has sired 22 winners from just 37 runners in Hong Kong, headed by Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) winner Victor The Winner, Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner Helios Express, and Group Three winner and Gr.1 Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) placegetter Senor Toba. Leung hopes his new recruit could develop into a candidate to join that black-type list.

“The type of horse that he is, the dream is a race like the Hong Kong Derby (2000m),” he said. “He’ll probably stay here in New Zealand through until the end of next winter, and then we’ll take things from there.

Lot 283, a colt by Toronado out of Attractive Photo: Trish DunellLot 283, a colt by Toronado out of Attractive Photo: Trish Dunell

“Francis and I have had some great luck at this sale in the past with horses like Golden Sixty, so let’s hope for some more.”

Golden Sixty was a $300,000 purchase from the 2017 Ready to Run Sale and went on to win 26 of his 31 starts including 10 Group One triumphs. He broke Hong Kong’s all-time prizemoney record with more than HK$167 million (NZ$34 million).

Leung added another purchase to his list not long after that big-priced double, paying another $180,000 for the Embellish gelding catalogued as Lot 299.

Leung spoke highly about this week’s 2024 edition of the Ready to Run Sale.

“It’s been a strong sale,” he said. “There are some very good quality horses here, and you have to be prepared to pay quite a bit of money to get the ones that you want.”

View the full article here :  https://www.breednet.com.au/news/34606/million-dollar-hour-for-leung-at-nzb-ready-to-run

/by

One to Watch – Kyneton

Breednet.com – Tara Madgwick – Monday November 18

Pride of Dubai has sired some seriously special mares and a debut winner at Kyneton on Monday in some very famous colours caught our eye as a ‘One to Watch’.

Playlist wins on debut at Kyneton - image Racing Photos Playlist wins on debut at Kyneton – image Racing Photos

Trained by Grahame Begg and ridden by Jordan Childs, Playlist was a heavily backed favourite and duly delivered with a length and a half win in the 1112m maiden.

Playlist had shown good ability in her previous jumpouts and was expected to produce on race day.

“We were coming into today with a bit of confidence as her jumpouts had gone well and it looked an average race,” said Jordan Childs.

“She jumped well and put herself on speed and it was fairly painless. She did that on natural ability today and will keep progressing through the grades.”

Playlist was a $150,000 Inglis Classic purchase.Playlist was a $150,000 Inglis Classic purchase.

Playlist was a $150,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Grahame Begg Racing / Swettenham Stud / John Foote Bloodstock from the draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds and runs for a varied syndicate of owners that include Adam Sangster with the famed Sangster family colours carried by the talented three year-old.

Playlist was bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and is the second winner from stakes-placed Redoute’s Choice mare Al Naifa, who was bought by the Sheikh for $1.8million at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Al Naifa is a half-sister to dual Group I winner and Champion 2YO Filly and 3YO Filly English from Group II winner Court.

Playlist is another promising winner for Pride of Dubai, who is the leading Australian sire by earnings following a dazzling spring that has seen him sire Everest winner Bella Nipotina, Group I winner Deny Knowledge (IRE) as well as Group winners Pride of Jenni, Maharba and Desert Lightning.

Pride of Dubai stands at a fee of just $22,000 representing unbeatable value.

View the full article here : https://www.breednet.com.au/news/34558/one-to-watch-%E2%80%93-kyneton

/by
,

Lofty Strike – Racing.com

 

/by
,

Toronado Filly Hurricane Georgie Sheds Maiden Tag

Breednet.com – Mark Smith – Wednesday August 28

Sweet moving Toronado (IRE) filly Hurricane Georgie franked the Daggers form when outclassing a field of 3-year-old fillies in the Senet Gambling Law Experts (1400m) at Sandown-Hillside.

Hurricane Georgie is gorgeous (image Scott Barbour,Racing Photos)

A battling fourth on debut behind the unbeaten I Am Invincible colt at Sandown-Hillside on August 7, Hurricane Georgie made all the running under Jamie Kah to defeat the Shooting To Win filly Chipilly by three and a half lengths with the US Navy Flag filly Navy Heart a length back in third.

Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Hurricane Georgie will likely trek a path to the One Thousand Guineas.

“When we bought this filly, I was standing beside Lois Le Metayer, and we were bidding against each other,” Kent recalled.

“I said, what do you want to do here? So we joined forces, which probably cost the vendor some money, but it was a good result.

“We purchased her at the (Inglis) Classic Sale. She is a lovely, big, strong, scopey filly by a good stallion. She is clean-winded sound, and she has always shown nice ability.”

Bred by Boom Racing, Hurricane Georgie was a $200,000 purchase for Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) / Price Kent Racing from the Eureka Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Hurricane Georgie a $200,000 Inglis Classic yearlingHurricane Georgie a $200,000 Inglis Classic yearling

A half-sister to Group III NRC Spring Stakes winner Pierossa (Pierro) and Listed VRC Football Stakes winner Ploverset (Street Boss), Hurricane Georgie is the fourth winner from five to race for the Testa Rossa mare Edwina Georgie.

A four-length winner at Deniliquin in her only start, Edwina Georgie was a $37,500 purchase for Boom Racing on Inglis Digital when carrying Hurricane Georgie.

Edwina Georgie has a 2-year-old filly by Spirit Of Boom, a yearling filly by Harry Angel (IRE), and was covered by Pinatubo (IRE) last spring.

View the full article here : https://www.breednet.com.au/news/32464/toronado-filly-hurricane-georgie-sheds-maiden-tag
/by
,

The Blade (AUS)

 

Theblade (AUS)

3 c Toronado – Brigite by Casino Prince

O: R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: R P Legh), Exset Racing (Mgr: J Bartolo), R Smith, Gilgai Farm (Mgr: R R Jamieson), Glentree Racing (Mgr: B W C Wilson), Murray Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd (Mgr: P A S Murray) & Wright Racing (Mgr: P J Wright)

B: Gilgai Farm

T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes

W: Street Boss @ Darley Handicap, 1150m, August 14, Randwick-Kensington

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes believes bigger and better things lie in wait for Theblade (Toronado) after the colt made a hugely impressive debut at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday.

Starting as the $3 favourite for the 1150-metre maiden handicap, the Team Hawkes-trained three-year-old streaked clear of his five rivals to beat Alpine Ski (Exceed And Excel) by 5.7 lengths, with a further 0.5 lengths back to Johnny The Kid (Trapeze Artist) in third.

Theblade had been set to make his debut in the final weeks of last season, but was scratched at the barriers for a two-year-old race at Warwick farm after hitting his head.

“It’s disappointing when you set horses for races and that happens,” said Michael Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his brother Wayne and his father John.

“It was all about trying to win as a two-year-old with him, but once that backfired two weeks ago, we’ve had to opt towards this race and we didn’t expect the rain.

“We’ve always said to the owners, the horse has got plenty of ability, we’re yet to see it. Today we’ve seen it, obviously on a wet track, which is another positive.

“He is the real deal and hopefully he can go on to bigger and better things.”

Hawkes said having another member of All Too Hard’s family in their care was special, especially given the involvement of Gilgai Farm’s Rick Jamieson, who bred Black Caviar.

“It is another generation and with these colts, we’re lucky enough to train them and have the patient owners that we do,” he said.

“But when you get a family we’ve had a lot to do with – and Gilgai [Farm] is in the horse as well and they’ve bred this bloke, Rick Jamieson obviously knows how to breed a winner – it’s exciting to think that a horse like this and of this calibre, could hopefully get to the top one day.”

Bred by Gilgai Farm, the son of Toronado (High Chaparral) is Black Caviar’s (Bel Esprit) nephew, being out of the champion sprinter’s unraced half-sister Brigite (Casino Prince), herself a sister to Team Hawkes’ former top-level racer turned successful sire All Too Hard.

/by
,

Immortal’s momentum for new season

 

The team behind I Am Immortal is happy to back their young stallion in ahead of what shapes as a make-or-break spring.

Swettenham Stud’s General Manager of Operations and Nominations, Sam Matthews, said that while he initially predicted the horse to make more of an impact with early runners, he is nonetheless excited by his late-season emergence.

I Am Immortal had four individual two-year-old winners from only 15 runners last season, including a bumper July in which Timeless Gem, Southern Lass and I Am Velvet broke their respective maidens.

The latter added the VOBIS Ingot at her next start and is rated $26 in Sportsbet’s all-in market for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas.

While I Am Immortal himself was a dual Stakes winner at two, Matthews said all indications from trainers with progeny by the stallion is that his horses are larger, strong types that will improve into their three-year-old seasons.

“It’s validating to see that recent success when you put your money on the line to go and buy these stallions,” Matthews said.

“In this case, seeing I Am Immortal have some success with his late-season two-year-olds is fantastic but it’s probably not exactly what we expected.

“We expected them to be earlier, pre-Christmas two-year-olds but by Christmas he’d only had a couple of runners.

“They’re probably going to be better three-year-olds and I stuffed up a bit by saying that they were only going to be early two-year-olds.

“He’s 16.2hh and he’s 620-odd kilograms, so he’s a big horse and he throws big horses.

“They’re fast racehorses, they’re big and strong but they probably just take a bit more time than we expected.”

WATCH: I Am Velvet, a filly by I Am Immortal, wins the VOBIS Gold Ingot

I Am Immortal’s champion sire I Am Invincible hadn’t produced a two-year-old G1 winner until last season and Matthews said there remains plenty of optimism in the horse given the size of the books he’s served in recent seasons.

After serving 116 mares in his debut season in 2020, I Am Immortal served 96 mares in 2021, 100 mares in 2022 and a career-high 121 mares last spring.

Matthews is confident the performances of the stallion’s progeny on the racetrack over the coming weeks and months will help prompt mare bookings, but he also hinted his team is happy to negotiate with breeders this season to ensure I Am Immortal is again well supported.

“Last year was definitely his busiest season, he covered 120 mares, which was fantastic,” he said.

“This year, he could cover 30 mares or he could cover 150 mares, it really depends on his results on the racetrack.

“That’s where this season is vital, we need to keep the numbers up and we’re happy to look after breeders to ensure that we can keep the numbers up.

“If he has a quiet spring and he only covers 30 or 40 mares, it makes it very difficult for him to come back from that.

“The market is tough and although we’re not a farm that traditionally deals very heavily, we’re happy to look after people with the right mares and get an inexpensive service fee for a horse that looks like he’s doing the job.”

I Am Immortal stands for $13,750 on a Swettenham roster that also includes pin-up Toronado ($88,000), Rubick ($27,500) and newcomer Lofty Strike ($22,000).

/by
,

Park hat-trick for team Noonan

Article written by Darcy Cosgriff from Racing.com on 27 July 2024:

Promising Toronado filly Herbert Park has claimed her third-straight victory at Caulfield on Saturday, relishing the tough going to post a gritty win for the Noonan team.

Trained by Tony Noonan, ridden by one of Noonan’s sons (Jake) and strapped by another (assistant trainer Tom), the three-year-old started a very well-backed ($16 into $5.50) chance third-up, having won her first two starts this campaign under apprentice Dakotah Keane.

Kate’s Tiara ($16) ensured a good tempo up front, but Herbert Park always looked comfortable cruising three-wide, and let down strongly upon straightening.

She hit the lead at around the 100-metre mark, and though Sunset Dreaming ($4.20) and Kundalini ($5.50) made good late ground, they ran out of time, as Noonan’s galloper scored her fourth win from four goes on the wet, and just six starts overall.

“She’s honest – very honest and tough,” Noonan said.

“I was a bit worried when the rain hadn’t come, but sometimes those Hail Mary’s help a bit, so we did plenty of them!

“She’s progressing really well… as I said to the boys, it’s just nice to train a half-decent horse that can progress, and she’s heading in the right direction.

“She always showed good ability, but at times she’s been a little bit hot, so we’ve just had to handle her carefully.

“Jake and Dakotah have done a terrific job with her, Tom, my son, has done a terrific job with her, she can be a bit tricky. It’s been a great team effort by everyone at home.”

The win doubled as a birthday present for Noonan’s mentor, two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mick Robins, who turned 94 on Saturday.

Robins trained Rain Lover to consecutive Cup wins in 1968 and 1969, with his horse carrying roughly 10 extra kilograms the second time around.

“A good mate of mine, Mick Robins, is 94 today. Mick worked for me for a number of years and trained Rain Lover to two Melbourne Cups,” Noonan said.

“Absolute champion of a bloke, and I’d love to send him all my love.”

Noonan said Herbert Park would likely head back to Caulfield in three weeks for a similar contest, where she will step out as a mare for the first time.

/by