THIRD YEAR TORONADO CROP RETURN HUGE INVESTMENT

Breeders who supported Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE) in his third year are reaping some enormous rewards as the stallion’s progeny continue to exert themselves on the racetrack.

Swettenham Stud principal Adam Sangster said there had been a huge return on investment for those breeders who had gone to Toronado in that often risky third year of a stallion.

The results were again proven at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands in early March.

“That third year can be a risky year but you can also get the best returns because really you are hoping the first two crops off the stallion have done particularly well and Toronado has proved that,” Sangster said.

“There were only 63 foals in his third year and the yearlings which were being sold now basically in the Inglis Premier Session averaged $175,000 and that is just under nine times his service fee.

“So breeders’ return on investment is enormous and the market has really, really warmed to him. Last year the top five Toronado lots were bought by Hong Kong and they have come back again and they have bought our top lot ($180,000) offered through Collingrove.”

“And Greta West Stud, through Bucklee Farm, sold one to Henry Dwyer for $200,000. And the other one was from Three Bridges Thoroughbreds to McEvoy Racing for $150,000.”

And Sangster said they Toronados were also well sought after in the showcase session of Melbourne Premier.

“Toronado has got a very bright future and his numbers are coming through very strongly,’’ Sangster said.

“It’s great for breeders, especially with the return on investment.”

Sangster said that Team Hawkes believe that Masked Crusader, purchased from Toronado’s first crop, is a “proper horse.”

Out of She’s Got Gears and offered by Gilgai Farm, the gelding was sold for $340,000 at the 2018 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

Sangster said other Toronado three year-old progeny trained in Victoria, including Campese (Archie Alexander) and Sassy Salitage (Greg Eurell), were all exciting prospects.

It’s no wonder Britain’s Richard Hannon Jr, who trained Toronado, called the horse superman.

Melbourne Premier was also significant for Swettenham Stud as it was the first time in more than a decade that the Collingrove Stud brand was revived for the sale of yearlings.

Collingrove was the original bloodstock business name used by Sangster’s late father, Robert Sangster, in his partnership with the late Colin Hayes and their families.

Adam Sangster offered the name to Daniel Brash who is operating his standalone business out of Michael Christian’s Longwood Thoroughbred Farm at Longwood East.

Yearlings from Swettenham Stud, and for other breeders, were offered at Melbourne Premier and Sangster was pleased to see the historic family name back in the sale catalogue.

“Dan had a particularly good sale and we supply him with client’s horse and our own yearlings and on day one he was averaging $150,000,” Sangster said.

Sangster said with Swettenham Stud no longer preparing yearlings for sales that the out-sourcing to Collingrove had allowed him and his key staff to concentrate more on their clients.

“The main thing is that it allows Sam Matthews (sales and nominations manager) Jason Robinson (operations manager) and myself not to be caught up in our marquee but we can actually get out among the sale ring in all complexes and really help our vendors and clients sell their own Swettenham breeds.

“It helps us do that and gives us a real strong selling point and point of difference to any other farm who are totally all consumed in selling their own stock.

“We are not distracted by people in our marquee and it gives us time."

Sangster was full of praise for the Melbourne Premier sale, saying a few good judges said that pound for pound, it been had been the best sale so far.

- Daryl Timms