A new thrilling week for our stallions and homebreds, starting with three beautiful Stakes performances for the 2020 record-breaking first season sire MEHMAS. Ballycrighaun Stud-bred MYSTERY SMILES opened the mark and followed up his two Group places as a two-year-old by an excellent third place in the G3 Craven Stakes on April, 15 at Newmarket, GB on his seasonal comeback. Ringfort Stud & Tally-Ho Stud-bred I AM MAGNETIC secured the third place of the Listed Pr. Certosa at Milano, Italy on April, 18, while a few minutes later, Tally-Ho Stud-bred MEHMENTO impressed by finishing strong runner-up of the G3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury, UK on his third start only. ACCLAM was the third hero of the day for Tally-Ho Stud-based MEHMAS with the Haras de Castillon, ZM. Al-Khayarin and HN Al-Hababi-bred loosing his maiden tag in a 1,400 meters conditions race at Strasbourg, France on his second run only.
MEHMAS’ two-year-olds continue to impress this season as illustrated by the splendid 2 ¼ lengths-victory of Blackberry Stud-Ltd-bred MELAYU KINDGOM on April, 17 at Thirsk, UK on his first time out.
Three sons of the leading European second crop sire SHALAA made an impression on their three-year-old seasonal debut this week. On the other side of the Channel sea, Ecurie de Castillon et Al.-bred CORDOUAN showed a terrific turn of foot to secure a 5 ½ lengths success at Newcastle on April, 13, while the following day, Petches Farm Ltd-bred BOOMSHALAA was claiming a 4 lengths-victory at Kempton Park. In Ireland, all credit was for LARADO who opened his winning account at Leopardstown on April, 14 for breeder Jean-Pierre Dubois.
It was another brilliant run of successes for our Haras de Bouquetot-based TORONADO this week, starting with his sole filly on offer at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, lot 34, sold for 210,000 guineas to Kerri Radcliffe from Kilminfoyle House Stud. HM The Queen’s 2020 Royal Ascot winner TACTICAL made a successful seasonal return when winning the Listed Bet365 European Free Handicap on April, 14 at Newmarket, UK to become TORONADO’s impressive 12th blacktype performer of the 2021 season, following the Classic hopes and blacktypes SOTORO and CASH EQUITY in France, the G1 victor MASKED CRUSADER and Stakes winners SOLAIA and LAVERROD in Australia, the dual Group performer GLOBAL HEAD in Meydan and the Listed performer LUCKY EXPRESS in Hong-Kong.
ADG Oldrey and GC Hartigan-bred and TORONADO's son BULLACE displayed a strong performance during the Craven Meeting on April, 15 at Newmarket, UK to call to his name a third consecutive victory. He could follow the steps of TACTICAL and targets the prestigious Royal Ascot Meeting this year.
Additional international heroes of the week for TORONADO included in Australia ZORRO’S DREAM on April, 14 at Bendigo, a seventh victory for LAVERROD on April, 17 at Caulfied and a strong win for TRUE VALENTINE in a 900 meters handicap at Newcastle.
In the UK, our homebred TORONADO’s TORO STRIKE in the care of Richard Fahey came from last to first to strike the Class 3 Michael Foster Conditions Stakes at Thirsk under the ride of Paul Hanagan. Raised at Haras de Bouquetot, our four-year-old holds an entry into the G1 Al Shaqab Racing Lockinge Stakes in May at Newbury racecourse.
He was one of our three victorious homebreds of the week, with IS. Al Malki-trained LAUDED collecting his third win in Qatar on April, 15 under the ride of S. Saadi. Third musketeer was OLYMPIC GLORY’s CALGARY who remained undefeated at Lyon Parilly, France on April, 15. In the care of Frédéric Rossi, the imposing three-year-old scored for the third time in as many runs in the 1m3f Conditions race Prix des Poulains under the care of S. Ruis. Raised at Haras de Bouquetot, he is out of the Lawman mare Brezena.
Three-year-old OLYPA was an additional winner for OLYMPIC GLORY and breeder Mrs JL Giral when crossing the finish line first at Montluçon, France on April, 18.
Congratulations to all connections!
Homebred TORONADO's TORO STRIKE on his way to success