It was another great Saturday for Toronado (IRE), who delivered a two state stakes double courtesy of Senor Toba and Still a Star.
Click here to read about Still a Star.
Progressive three-year-old gelding Senor Toba booked his ticket for the Queensland Derby following his maiden stakes success in Saturday’s Group III ACY Securities Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick.
With just a 1600m maiden win at Moonee Valley and a last start disappointment at Randwick behind him in three starts, the Chris Waller-trained son of Toronado (IRE) went off a $26 chance under Hugh Bowman.
The powerfully made grey finished resolutely to defeat the Savabeel gelding High Supremacy by one and a quarter lengths with the Pride Of Dubai gelding Achiever a short-neck back in third.
“It’s been good to see him turn it around today,” Waller said.
“We always knew he would stay. Until he got up to this distance you haven’t been able to see the best from him so it’s a sign of good things to come for sure, very bright future.
“He is a lovely type, works with you, does everything right. He won his second start at Moonee Valley, and we gave him a bit of a break to get him ready for either the SA or Queensland Derby. We thought about the South Australian Derby, but that comes around a little bit quicker, it’s only two weeks away.
Bred by David Peacock, Senor Toba was purchased by Hermitage Thoroughbreds for $180,000 out of the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
The son of Toronado is a three-quarter brother to the Group II VRC Matriarch Stakes winner Affair To Remember.
He is the only foal to race out of the Teofilo (IRE) mare Bahamas, who placed in the Group 1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks and Group III South Australia Fillies Classic in a career restricted to seven starts.
Bahamas is a daughter of the 3-time Listed stakes-winner Saint Trinians (Black Hawk).
Bahamas has an unraced 2yo brother to Senor Toba named My Man Godfrey, and a yearling colt by Territories (IRE).
After foaling a filly by Frosted (USA) last spring, Bahamas was covered by Harry Angel (IRE).
Senor Toba becomes the 12th stakes winner worldwide for Swettenham Stud shuttler Toronado (IRE), who has the favourite Masked Crusader in the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes.
