Toronado (IRE) is making every post a winner as we move through the first month of the new season and he had a stylish maiden winner at Newcastle on Thursday that is also his equal highest priced yearling ever sold.
Lightly raced four year-old gelding Copacabana was a short priced favourite for the 1400m maiden coming out of a hot form race last start when he finished third to Bauhinia and Maori Chief. They have both run well since with Bauhinia a close sixth in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes, while Maori Chief was beaten a head at Canterbury yesterday.
Ridden by Reece Jones, the Team Hawkes trained Copacabana was strong through the line to win by nearly two lengths over progressive import Wexford Miss (IRE).
An $850,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Kitchwin Hills from the Sullivan Bloodstock draft, Copacabana has a win and four placings from six starts and should progress through his grades this season.
Bred by Gilgai Farm, who also bred and sold Toronado’s $4.4million earning Group I winner Masked Crusader, Copacabana is the third winner from Promenades, a half-sister by Lonhro to the dam of Group I winner Tom Kitten and stakes-winners Va Via and Promotions.
Promenades was on-sold by Gilgai Farm earlier this year through Inglis Digital for $13,000 and is due to foal to Supido.
Standing at Swettenham Stud this spring, Toronado has had 26 winners so far this season.
