Geegee Blackprince could be the first Americain to race in Australia after pleasing trainer Stuart Gandy in a barrier trial earlier this month. Gandy and the colt’s owner-breeders Paul & Elizabeth Geard will assess his progress before deciding on a start in the Debutante Stakes (900m) at Elwick on November 1. The good-looking colt finished a close-up third in his first public hit-out on September 13. “He worked to the line nicely and showed enough to suggest he could go early,” Gandy said. “He’s impressed me at the track. He’s a quiet type and goes about his work like a professional.” Geegee Blackprince (2c Americain - La Quita by Grand Lodge) is a younger half-brother to Tasmanian Horse

European breeders raved about the first foals by Toronado earlier this year and their Australian counterparts have echoed those sentiments now that his southern foals are arriving en masse. Toronado (Ire) is an outstanding physical specimen and shuttles from the English National Stud to Adam Sangster’s Swettenham Stud in conjunction with Qatar’s Al Shaqab Racing. A Champion Group 1 Miler, he covered 174 mares first-up at Nagambie last year and among the first to foal was Riverina Red (Testa Rossa). Her Toronado filly was born at Riversdale Farm on August 1. “She is a first foal and was boxed for a week to strengthen,” studmaster Nick Hodges explained. “Adam inspected her while up here rece

Nolen Racing’s first-crop Americain colt impressed clockers at the Cranbourne breeze-ups in advance of the Inglis Ready2Race Sale. Catalogued as Lot 135 for the October 4 auction, he scooted over 200m in 10.72s. “He’s a nice horse,” Benalla-based vendor Tal Nolen said. “Jye McNeil was aboard and was very happy with the way he felt. “I like Americain. I’ve broken-in a few of the first ones and they’re good types.” Nolen pin-hooked his colt for $40,000 out of the Inglis Classic yearling sale in February and he’s bred to get over ground. First-dam Year Of The Cat (Tale Of The Cat) won over 2100m at Avondale and second dam Luskin Lady (Dedicated Rullah) won a Group 3 at 2600m in New Zealand.

Tatura breeder Stuart Pickworth will be happy if Valliano turns out anywhere near as good as Trust In A Gust this season. Pickworth and Swettenham Stud owner Adam Sangster bred Valliano who was named 2016 Super VOBIS Horse of the Year after winning the $250,000 Inglis 2YO Premier and $280,000 VOBIS Gold Ingot at Caulfield. Sangster bred Trust In A Gust to win the 2014 Super VOBIS Horse of the Year award. He graduated to Group 1 victories in the Sir Rupert Clarke Cup & Toorak Hcp and is now covering a very strong first book back at his birthplace in Nagambie. Valliano (3g Equiano - Miss Valley Road by Elusive Quality) is also gunning for a Group race during the spring carnival. He resumed w

Toronado (Ire) was the star when Swettenham Stud showcased its line-up of stallions at Nagambie on Sunday. On a sunny morning, MC Shane Anderson introduced the stud’s five sires with comments from Adam Sangster, Brian Gorman and special guest John Warren Warren is racing to advisor Sheikh Joaan who shuttles Toronado to Swettenham. The Group 1 winning world-champion oozed class in front of a large crowd and he would be a stand-out on any roster. “Toronado has tremendous muscle definition which is why he was such a fast horse,” Warren explained. “He is the most precocious son of High Chaparral and looks the perfect horse for Australia. “Breeders have told me how impressed they’ve been this m