It was a solid day at the office for high-quality Group 1 breeders Torryburn Stud with three graduates saluting the judge at three different tracks headed by Exceed And Excel mare Crepe Myrtle achieving consecutive wins when taking out the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury.
In the stable of Joe Pride, who is having some great success with his Godolphin acquisitions, Crepe Myrtle was coming off a last start win over 1100m at Gosford, before stepping up to mid-week metro level, and under Zac Lloyd carried 60kgs to a three-quarter-length victory over 1100m.
Out of the top three just once in her six starts to date highlighted by three wins, Crepe Myrtle was consigned through Torryburn Stud’s 2023 Inglis Easter yearling sale draft, where the daughter of Darley’s Exceed And Excel was knocked down to Godolphin for $900,000.
Bred by the late Alan Osburg, Crepe Myrtle is the second foal, and second winner out of the five-time stakes winner Dixie Blossoms (Street Sense), whose defining victory came when winning the Group 1 Coolmore Classic where she defeated fellow Torryburn Stud graduate El Dorado Dreaming (Ilovethiscity).
Dixie Blossoms foaled a filly last season by Yarraman Park’s three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible and just over a month ago gave birth to her most recent foal, a colt by Dundeel.
Just under an hour later, this time at Doomben, the Michael Freedman trained Toroando mare Every Heart gave Torryburn Stud their second winner of the day.
Retained to race and sporting the well-known white and red heart silks of the Cornish family, Every Heart has been very consistent of late, finishing in the top four on eight occasions from her last ten starts.
One of two winners, from two to the races out of the I Am Invincible mare La Pomme De Pin, a pedigree that traces back to a family which Torryburn Stud has had plenty of success with through the deeds of Group 3 winner Crimson Reign and her Group 2-winning son Deploy.
Ending the day with a winner in Hong Kong, the David Eustace trained Medaglia d’Oro gelding Podium recorded his second win since being exported, winning over 120m at Happy Valley.
Having won twice from six Australian starts before being exported, the gelding is the first foal out of the American bred Lonhro mare Apamurra, a half-sister to the dam of Group 1 winners Alizee and Astern.
Torryburn Stud sold a colt by their own home-grown Champion Home Affairs out of Apamurra to Henry Dwyer at this year’s Magic Millions yearling sale. Named Home Tomuura, the 2yo colt had his first jumpout recently at Ballarat.
“It’s been a successful day for the Torryburn Stud team,” enthused Stud Manager Mel Copelin.
“Crepe Myrtle has certainly hit some form, which is great as it’s very timely with her half-sister by I Am Invincible heading to next year’s Inglis Easter yearling sale.
“Every Heart was just brilliant, and even more special that Brett Cornish was track side to witness the success first-hand.
“The mare was presented in fantastic order and with the mating being our first year to Swettenham Stud’s Toronado, it resulted in two beautiful fillies born. Every Heart was retained to race due to her type and physique, while the other filly born was Oakfield Jupiter, who sold extremely well and is now on a winning streak.
“The day was topped off a few hours later with Podium winning stylishly in Hong Kong.”
With the farm having some solid recent success on the track, they head to January’s Magic Millions on the Gold Coast with eight lots highlighted by Lot 217, the Toronado half-sister to recent Listed Crockett Stakes winner Stardom, Lot 702, the Harry Angel half-sister to this season’s Group 3 Angst Stakes winner Idel Flyer as well as Lot 397, a Harry Angel half-brother to Oakfield Jupiter, a winner of four of her five starts so far.
Having had plenty of success with their Inglis Classic yearling sale graduates including Hong Kong Champions Hot King Prawn and Voyage Bubble, who tackles this Sunday's Group 2 HKJC Jockey Club Cup (2000m at Sha Tin, the farm will then present a small, but select draft of eight at this year’s Classic sale including Lot 79, the Pierro half-sister to dual Group 2 winner Straight Arron and Lot 744, a filly by Maurice out of a half-sister to Hong Kong Champion Sprinter Hot King Prawn.
