Toronado (IRE) has become the to go to sire for Hong Kong yearling buyers and his merits were on full display at Sha Tin on Sunday when talented four year-old Stormy Grove won the second leg of this year’s 4YO series, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).
Stormy Grove settled in his customary position toward the back of the field but showed a spectacular turn of foot to charge past some of Hong Kong’s best up-and-coming middle-distance horses to score a second consecutive victory.
Trained by Frankie Lor and ridden by Harry Bentley, Stormy Grove won by a length over Hellbent gelding Invincible Ibis with Kiwi bred Super Seth gelding Patch of Cosmo in third place.
Stormy Grove had a win and a second from his first two starts in Australia before his sale to hong Kong and has the overall record of three wins and three placings from nine starts.
Owners Marc Chan and Lili Chan Li Lei will now target the third and final leg of the series - the Hong Kong Derby, the most important race on the Hong Kong calendar – with Stormy Grove at Sha Tin on March 22.
“This feels extremely special,” said Bentley, who has been in the saddle for each of Stormy Grove’s seven Hong Kong runs.
“I’ve liked this horse throughout, and I’ve struck up a good partnership with him. I was extremely impressed with the way he won last time. I had to come into this race with a certain level of expectation and hope. But to do it the way he did was pretty breathtaking.”
Frankie Lor felt a suitable pace was a positive for Stormy Grove, and said a similarly run race on BMW Hong Kong Derby day might lead to further glory for the Australian-bred son of Toronado.
“I thought if the pace was suitable for him, he could do the same thing as last time at 1600 (metres).
“Next is 2000 (metres), and I think if the pace is suitable for him, then he can do the same thing. I think if he can settle, like today – he settled real good, and also the jockey – he knows the horse, he can have a very strong finish.”
Stormy Grove was a $135,000 Premier Yearling Sale purchase for Nardoo Valley Stud’s Philip George, from the Collingrove Stud draft.
Bred by Adam Sangster, Rebecca and Simon Lurati’s Ealing Park, John Dickson’s Sandown Lodge and Tim Jones, Stormy Grove began his racing career in Australia for Patrick and Michelle Payne.
He won impressively on debut at Geelong in December 2024 before finishing an eye-catching second at Flemington in BM70 Saturday grade, after which he was exported to Hong Kong.
Co-breeder Sangster said: “It’s a great thrill to co-breed a horse like this, it’s a fabulous result for Toronado who has an incredible record in Hong Kong and it’s a great boon for our home sale, the Inglis Premier Sale which showed again today just how strong it is.
“Full credit to Jamie McCalmont, who purchased Stormy Grove on behalf of March Chan following his two Australian runs.
“This horse is loaded with talent. He was loaded with talent as a yearling, he was loaded with talent when he was racing early on in Australia and he’s loaded with talent in Hong Kong and is now starting to get recognised and deservedly so.
“The Hong Kong Derby is the biggest race of the year for Hong Kong owners and to have a live chance in a race like that is fabulous.’’
Stormy Grove becomes the fourth consecutive Inglis graduate to win the Hong Kong Classic Cup following the success of Rubylot (2025), Helios Express (2024) and Super Sunny Sing (2023).
The 48th stakes-winner for Toronado (IRE), Stormy Grove is a half-brother to stakes-placed Deekay and is the best of five winners from six foals to race from Seagrove, a placed Exceed and Excel mare from the family of Group I winner Hill of Grace.
Seagrove has a yearling filly by North Pacfic and has not been served since.
