Pin-hookers target Toronado

First-crop foals by Swettenham Stud shuttler Toronado (Ire) are being targeted by pin-hookers at the Arqana December Sale.

Toronado was popular at last month’s Tattersalls Sale when his foals sold to 190,000gns (AUD 334,130) and his first through the sale-ring at Deauville made 90,000 euros (AUD 128,655) on Saturday.

Catalogued as Lot 8, the colt is the first foal from Gaiete (Kentucky Dynamite) and was purchased by agent Jamie Railton for resale at one of the major yearling auctions next year. His dam won at Chantilly and was stakes-placed at Maisons-Laffitte.

Swettenham also was in the frame on Friday when its Melbourne Premier graduate Irish Rose (pictured as a yearling) won on debut at Mornington. She made $55,000 at Oaklands to the bid of Clanbrooke Racing’s Dean Humphries.

“She gave me a good feel and travelled well. I was able to give her a breather when another one kicked up and then she kicked away in the straight,” winning jockey Roger Booth said.

“She’s been well-educated by Pat Carey and is over a few problems from earlier in this preparation. She’s a tough filly and did a good job first-up.”

Irish Rose (Fastnet Rock) is a younger half-sister to stakes winners Maules Creek (Randwick) and Sebrose (Singapore). Their Group 1 winning dam Bramble Rose (Skinko King) was NZB Filly of the Year in 2002-03.