Toronado’s Flemington breakout a boost for all Victorian stud farms
Swettenham’s Sangster backs Al Shaqab’s shuttler to continue his rise up the ranks
Adam Sangster is confident that last week’s important breakthrough Flemington stakes double for Swettenham Stud’s shuttle stallion Toronado (High Chaparral) will be a sign of things to come not just for his Nagambie stud but Victorian breeding in general.
The Swettenham Stud principal was this week still celebrating the success of four-year-old Matriarch Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) winner Affair To Remember and three-year-old Shelby Cobra who continued his rapid progression with a victory in the Springtime Stakes (Listed, 1400m).
His belief in the local industry and that of the Al Shaqab-owned Toronado was boosted after Shelby Cobra’s mother Segenhoe Valley (Dane Shadow) and three-week-old sister sold for $325,000 in the Inglis Digital Online Auction on Wednesday.
“We’ve known there’s been some really nice horses around by Toronado, but the pattern of races hadn’t really turned out as we had expected during the early spring,” Sangster said.
“Since then, however, he’s certainly positioned himself particularly well with the two stakes winners at Flemington “
Sangster confirmed that a deal with Al Shaqab for Toronado to return to Australia in 2021 was already locked away.
“We had to close Toronado’s book in February or March for this season, which was a sure sign that he was going well and the market really likes his stock.
“There’s probably eight colts who have gone up to Hong Kong and we feel he’s going to continue the way of the successful High Chaparral sire line.”
The emergence of Shelby Cobra promoted Queensland hobby breeder Laurelle Owen to put Segenhoe Valley on the market and Sangster was delighted that she was rewarded with a big result.
“The owner bought her for $5000 off Makybe (in 2018),so that is an incredible return on her investment,” he said.
“She is a lovely lady who owned her and she would be beside herself. We told her not to keep refreshing the Inglis Digital site and looking at it because most of the action would take place in the last 20 minutes, but there looked to be bidding going on all the way through.”
Toronado’s success and the Segenhoe Valley trade was, according to Sangster, not only recognition for Swettenham but all the breeders who support the industry in Victoria.
Fellow Victorian farms Yulong, Spendthrift Australia, Darley, Woodside Park, Rosemont Stud, Sun Stud, Glen Eden, Blue Gum Farm, Aquis Farm and Riverbank Farm are among those stallion operations to have invested heavily in the state’s breeding industry in recent years.
While Toronado sired two cup week winners, Sun Stud’s Fiorente (Monsun) had Power Scheme score last Saturday and Magnus’ (Flying Spur) Kemalpasa win on Derby Day, young Woodside Park Stud sire Rich Enuff (Written Tycoon) had two-year-old filly Dosh win on debut and former barnmate’s Written Tycoon (Iglesia) score with Written Beauty on Oaks Day.
Written Tycoon also had juvenile colt Finance Tycoon and four-year-old Rich Hips win on Melbourne Cup day, while the late Three Bridges Thoroughbreds stallion Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) had No Restriction win at the same meeting.
“I really enjoy seeing Victorian stallions bringing the rewards for smaller breeders because it helps the whole industry with good results like this,” Sangster said.
“I am always happy to see stallions work here because then everyone makes money. If smaller breeders make money, then smaller breeders come back into the industry and Victoria has a chance to upgrade stock.”
Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria executive officer Charmein Bukovec said it was not just in Cup week where Victorian-sired horses excelled,
“I think the spring was phenomenal for Victorian breeders. We were dominant on racetracks across Australia,” Bukovec said yesterday.
“Darley’s Frosted took out the first two-year-old stakes race of the season with one of his progeny in Ingratiating; we saw Victorian-bred and sired horses such as North Pacific dominate in Sydney and dual Group 1 winner Ole Kirk’s form speaks for itself.
“There were amazing results across the board and the spring was very successful for Victorian breeders and that has been highlighted during the carnival.”
The Victorian-bred and sired honour roll suggested to Bukovec that a concerted push to upgrade the stock in the state was starting to pay off.
“For a long time we have talked about the investment in Victoria and I think we are seeing that momentum is really starting to get some wheels on it,” she said.
“It proves the results we can get in Victoria.”