It’s been a good weekend for Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE) with Everest contender Masked Crusader making a winning return at Caulfield, while at Goodwood overnight in the UK his four year-old son Toro Strike captured the Group III Supreme Stakes (7f).
Trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Ryan Moore, Toro Strike was second in this race last year and made amends with a strong finishing two length win that carved out a new course record for the trip.
A homebred for Al Shaqab Racing, Toro Strike has the overall record of four wins and four placings from 13 starts.
“Toro Strike just loves fast ground. We’ve been a bit unlucky with him. Sometimes we’ve entered him and it’s not worked out. On his day he’s pretty smart – when he gets everything right and comes off a strong pace it always seems to suit him,” said Richard Fahey.
“The Breeders’ Cup Mile has been discussed. I’ve been talking about it with Alison (Begley, Al Shaqab’s racing manager), but we needed a good performance to get in it. We think it would suit him well.”
Toro Strike was foaled in America and has a US female pedigree being the first winner for Group III winner Scarlet Strike, a half-sister by Straight Strike to Group I winners Tara’s Tango and Visionaire as well as Group III winner Madison’s Luna.
Toro Strike is the 15th stakes-winner for Toronado, who has returned to Swettenham Stud in Victoria to stand at a fee of $49,500 this spring.
