Toronado’s First Crop Received Well

Swettenham Stud offered three weanlings by their first crop shuttle stallion Toronado (High Chaparral) with Lot 61, a filly out of Adelaide Cup (Gr 2, 3200m) winner Lacey Underall (Desert Sun), selling to Peter Ford Thoroughbreds for $80,000.

Earlier, Swettenham Stud sold Lot 7, a Toronado colt out of winning Commands (Danehill) mare Baize, to Musk Creek Farm for $75,000. The colt’s second dam is Suede (Quest For Fame), a three-time winner and a daughter of the dual Group One winner Shame (Scenic) making her a half-sister to the Group Three winner and sire Demerit (Lonhro). Kobritz said the Toronado colt purchased by Musk Creek Farm was likely to develop into a strong commercial yearling prospect next year. “He is by a very exciting Victorian stallion. He is well grown at this stage for a weanling and I saw a lot of potential for growing him out further up on the hills of Musk Creek Farm,” he said. “He is out of a winning Commands mare from a good family and I saw the potential in him being a very nice yearling in nine to 12 months time.”

The final weanling by Toronado to sell yesterday was Lot 19 who was purchased for $60,000. The colt is out of the dual winner Cape Augusta (Cape Town), a half-sister to the Grade Two winner Buffythecentrefold (Capote) with this being the family of Whobegotyou (Street Cry).

Swettenham Stud principal Adam Sangster said Toronado, who shuttles to Australia under partnership with owner Al Shaqab, was stamping his progeny. Sangster told ANZ Bloodstock News he was pleased with the reception his foals received from buyers at yesterday’s sale, with the three weanlings averaging $71,667 to finish the day as the leading sire by average (with three or more sold). “We showcased three lovely Tornado weanlings to show off the quality that this first season sire is producing, not only in the northern hemisphere but in the southern hemisphere,” Sangster said. “That was reflected in the 174 mares (he covered) in his first season and 142 in his second season. Enquiries are very strong and the market has reacted very strongly to his weanlings (yesterday). It shows Al Shaqab’s commitment to Australian racing by offering the service at this level where breeders can make some good trade,” Sangster said. Toronado stood for a fee of $22,000 (inc GST) in 2016. ”The foals are throwing very much to himself and Toronado was a speed son of High Chaparral and he performed in Europe’s Group One stallion-making mile races,” he said. Swettenham Stud finished the day as the leading vendor by average having sold all three of the lots they offered for $215,000 at an average of $71,667.