Toronado stamps his class on the Gold Coast

Toronado scored a big win for Swettenham Stud on day four of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Lots 668 and 833 both selling for $400,000 each.

Lot 668 was a handsome brown colt out of the Sepoy mare Vigilance, who won four of her eight career starts and is from the same family as Stakes winners French Bid and Nancress.

Toronado, who currently stands at Swettenham for a service fee of $45,000, has enjoyed standout success in recent seasons with his progeny having amassed multiple Stakes wins – including Team Hawkes’ Group 1 champion Masked Crusader.

His four purchased yearlings this week have fetched just under $1.3 million, with the big-spending China Horse Club / Newgate Bloodstock / Starlight partnership very keen to secure a piece of the action when they outbid their rivals for Lot 668.

Later in the day, Three Bridges Thoroughbreds (as agent) sold another Toronado colt for $400,000, with A List Stud – who have been big supporters of the stallion – eventually winning the bidding war.

“For Toronado to average more than $300,000 from his four yearlings sold is a great result for the farm,” said Sam Matthews, Swettenham’s Sales and Nominations Manager.

“We only have a select few at the Magic Millions as most will be going to the sale in Melbourne, and for him to average $300,000 from what at the time was only a $25,000 service fee is enormous.

“Toronado has established himself as an elite stallion thanks to his consistency, you know you’re in pretty safe hands when you buy one of his progeny. He stamps them so well and they’re all good-looking, much like he is. Good-looking horses that can run and get up and going early are hard to find, so it’s a very appealing combination.”

The first lady of Australian racing will put the polish on another Toronado colt after Gai Waterhouse and her training partner Adrian Bott paid $375,000 in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds for Lot 273.

The bay colt out is the second foal out of Miss Softhands (by Bel Esprit), who won five races over sprint distances.

Simon Zahra Racing snapped up the second Toronado yearling to go through the ring (Lot 493), a bay filly out of Segenhoe Valley, for $150,000. This is Segenhoe Valley’s second foal by Toronado with her first, Shelby Cobra, exploding onto the scene with a devastating win in the Listed Springtime Stakes at Flemington in 2020.

Rubick, who is standing in his second season at Swettenham for a service fee of $27,500, has also proved very popular this week with all 10 of his lots being sold for six figure sums so far.

The highest price was raised by his colt out of Stars are Out, with Annabel Neasham and her Bloodstock Manager Brian McGuire forking out $270,000 for Lot 560.

“To see Rubick so well represented and well received alongside Toronado is extremely satisfying,” said Matthews.

“We were pretty confident they would sell well in the build-up to the sale, but you still get nervous before they go through the sale ring so to come out of the other side with some great results is a big relief.

“Annabel has had some success with Rubick’s progeny, so it was great to see her continue the association and we’re delighted he’s going to find a very happy home, as are all his yearlings.”