Toronado impresses in away-day at Kempton 

RICHARD HANNON sent eight horses to Kempton this morning for a full-scale workout around the Polytrack, and the report that he received back from Richard jnr had the boss bubbling with enthusiasm as the new Flat season gets ever closer.

He said: "Toronado worked particularly well with Havana Gold and Law Enforcement, and he has done really well through the winter. He has lengthened and filled out in all the right places, and he has grown into a lovely horse.

"He is by High Chaparral, but John Magnier is also familiar with the distaff side of the colt's pedigree, and when we met in Barbados in January he told me that a mile and a half would not be a problem."

The unbeaten Toronado is a 16-1 chance to give the boss his first Derby triumph at Epsom in June, and Richard added:"We are in the fortunate position of having a fistful of smart three-year-olds to go to war with, and my biggest problem is trying to keep them apart for the trials.

"I would think that Toronado will head to Newmarket for the Craven Stakes, Havana Gold could also go to HQ for the Free Handicap, while Olympic Glory, who has also thrived during the winter and moved beautifully when we worked him earlier in the week, would likely reappear in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury.

Toronado Guineas Campaign on Target

Toronado Guineas Campaign on Target

It was interesting that the Richard Hannon camp should be nominating Toronado as their Number One Classic colt.
On their website on March 9th they said
"The unbeaten Toronado, surely another bargain buy at 55,000 Euros at Deauville, is progressing along nicely for the Coriolan Links Partnership, and he could well take in the 2000 Guineas along the way. He is obviously our number one, having looked the part last season and received rave reviews from Richard Hughes, who believes that he will never have a better chance of riding the winner of the greatest Flat race in the world."

This follows an earlier report"Hannon is hoping that the unbeaten Toronado, winner of three races last year culminating in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September, may be able to put that record straight on June 1. "We will be looking at the Investec Derby for Toronado after he has run in one of the Guineas, but we have not decided which one he will go for at the moment," said Richard Hannon junior, assistant to his father. He is in great form and he has done very well over the winter so we are very pleased with him - we always thought he would make a lovely three-year-old." Hannon senior has had nine runners in the Derby, the first of them in 1973 and his best placing so far has been sixth with Gran Alba in 1989. Toronado is priced at 14/1 by Coral to improve on that record. Richard Hannon junior continued: "We have always liked him from the time he went and won his maiden at Newbury and he continued to improve all year. "In a couple of races last year, they did not go very fast early and he probably did not look as good as he could have done. "It's exciting for the team as we have not had many Derby runners and we are looking forward to it."
Anybody following my Blog will know that we have been with this colt from the start and that he is the only Ante Post Bet I have put up for the 2,000 Guineas @ 50/1 and 33/1.
It is almost certain that he will go for the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas following colts like Royal Palace Sir Ivor Nijinsky Mill Reef  Sea The Stars Camelot who have all gone on to Derby success have taken in the Rowley Mile. I cannot believe that he will go to The Curragh for their 2,000 being only 2 weeks away from Epsom and risking possible dodgy going.
As yet I have not put him up for the Derby but will be happy to take a shorter price once I am certain he has the makings of a Derby horse.