Toronado Continues High Chaparral Success

Even though the Australian thoroughbred landscape revolves, ostensibly, around juvenile speed – with the Golden Slipper its metaphorical breeding compass – it's an over-simplification of an industry that continues to evolve its breeding of horses capable of being effective against elite global opposition up to 2000m. That’s thanks, in part, to former shuttler High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells-Kasora, by Darshaan). The world champion horse, who boasted seven different titles, tragically died prematurely at 15, but he has left an indelible mark on the breed in Australia and New Zealand. Sire of 151 Group winners, High Chaparrals’ sire-sons in the Antipodes include well-proven duo So You Think and Dundeel, plus emerging influences Contributer and Toronado, while dual Group 1 winner Ace High promises plenty. Becoming the first Group 1 winner for Gr1 Queen Anne S. and Gr1 Sussex S. hero Toronado, Masked Crusader (see above item) became the fifty-ninth individual Inglis graduate to win a Group 1 since 2018. The result saw Masked Crusader firm into $21 for this year’s The Everest (1200m) at Randwick, a race that looks winnable for the grandson of High Chaparral whose story is far from finished. Toronado also sired Laverrod to win the Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on Saturday, showing that despite his sireline suggesting he'd get milers and above, Toronado is proving to be an extremely versatile stallion.