So many of the best colts by Toronado (IRE) are purchased with Hong Kong in mind, but exciting prospect Tron Bolt has connections thinking Brisbane Winter Carnival after the two year-old raced to a facile victory at Randwick on Wednesday.
Trained by Chris Waller for Hermitage Thoroughbreds, Tron Bolt was a close third on debut to his stablemates Katoto and Unhinged in a midweek metro maiden two weeks ago.
Stepped up to 1400m for this assignment and ridden by James McDonald, Tron Bolt jumped smartly and settled on the fence behind the leaders. When switched around heels to issue a challenge, he rounded them up quickly and went on to win by three lengths in a dominant display.
Tron Bolt topped the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale last year for Hunters Lodge when selling for $900,000 and was a supers successful pinhook having bee sourced by Hunter’s Lodge and Liam Ruddy for $250,000 from the Gilgai Farm draft at Inglis Easter.
“I was very impressed. As we touched on pre-race, he was a nice, Ready 2 Race horse, and he's impressed us since day one. I wouldn't say I was surprised he got beaten on debut, but I'm certainly not surprised to see him win as well as he did today,” said Chris Waller.
“He’ll race again in two and a half weeks, there’s the Sires Produce (G2) in Queensland or there is a 1300m event at Rosehill, so he will race in one of those two and if he can win or run well we will go to the JJ Atkins (G1 1600m). He will get a mile easy.”
James McDonald was full of praise for Tron Bolt.
“He's a cool dude. He just takes everything in his stride, so there's a lot to like about him,” he said.
“He's an expensive ready to runner, and he's put them to the sword today, probably not the strongest field in the world, but all he can do is win and he did so in style.”
“I like how he's got gate speed and he switches off, so it bodes well for the future, especially if they go into bigger races like the JJ Atkins.”
Tron Bolt was bred by Gilgai Farm and is the first foal from Group III winning Casino Prince mare Baccarat Baby, who was bought by Dermot Farrington on behalf of Gilgai at the 2022 Magic Millions National Sale conducted Spendthrift Dispersal for $900,000.
Baccarat Baby is a half-sister to triple Group I winner Duais, who is now part of the Yulong broodmare band, and Group II winner Philia, who made $1.4million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale last week when purchased by Katsumi Yoshida.
Baccarat Baby has a yearling colt by Toronado that Gilgai Farm sold at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale last year for $110,000, but has slipped and missed in two subsequent seasons, so no doubt her owners will be hoping she goes in foal this spring.
