Swettenham Stud's Toronado (IRE) was on fire on New Year's Day with a winner at Canterbury and a double at Flemington, highlighted by the victory of Corner Pocket in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m).
The Lindsey Smith-trained gelding was reunited with Declan Bates and showed his fighting spirit in defeating Looks Like Elvis (All American) by a half-length with Pal D'oro (Medaglia d'Oro) three-quarters of a length back in third.
Bates has been on the 6yo gelding in all nine wins, which included seven on the bounce.
The son of Toronado (IRE) advances his record to nine wins, two seconds, and three thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $543,007.
A $75,000 pinhook by Musk Creek Farm out of the Swettenham Stud draft at the 2017 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, Corner Pocket made $175,000 to the bid of Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) / L Smith when offered by Musk Creek at the 2018 Inglis Classic.
Corner Pocket is the lone winner from two to race for the winning Commands mare Baize.
A granddaughter of the crack racemare Shame (Scenic), whose six wins included the Group 1 VATC One Thousand Guineas and Group 1 QTC Sires' Produce Stakes, Baize was a $4,000 purchase at the 2018 Inglis September Monthly Online Sale.
A Puissance De Lune (IRE) colt from Baize passed in short of his $150,000 reserve at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Baize has a yearling colt by Puissance De Lune (IRE) and foaled a Shamus Award filly on November 13.
