Toronado to Carry Hannon Hopes in BC Mile
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Al Shaqab Racing's British-based Toronado is being aimed for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) after missing last year's World Championships to continue his recovery from throat surgery.
Racing Post reports that trainer Richard Hannon was at the Tattersalls October yearling sale in Newmarket Oct. 14 when he indicated the 4-year-old High Chaparral colt would bypass the Oct. 18 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-I) on British Champions Day in favor of the $2 million Mile at Santa Anita Park. Stablemate Night of Thunder goes for the one-mile race at Ascot.
A win in the Mile would be the first in a Breeders' Cup race for the stable, which has been represented by several runners over 23 years since Hannon's father, Richard Hannon Sr., sent his first contestant to the World Championships in 1991.
An elite miler, Toronado was highweighted on the European Free Handicap from seven to nine furlongs in 2013 after wins in the Sussex and Craven Stakes (Eng-II) and a runner-up finish in the St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I). After a disappointing last-place finish in the season's Juddmonte International (Eng-I) at York last August, his connections discovered a displaced soft palate that was corrected with surgery.
After nearly 10 months off, Toronado launched his comeback this spring, winning Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) by three-quarters of a length from U.S. grade I winner Verrazano at Royal Ascot. He followed with a second to Europe's top miler Kingman in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) July 31 at Goodwood, and most recently was a just head second to Charm Spirit in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-I) Sept. 14 at Longchamp.
Last year, Al Shaqab's Olympic Glory finished ninth for the Hannon stable in the Breeders' Cup Mile. The 4-1 second choice, he was beaten 7 1/2 lengths by Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who will miss this year's race with an injury.
Hannon took over training duties from his father at the end of the 2013 season. The elder Hannon sent out nine previous Breeders' Cup starters and has not had the best of luck in the World Championships. Both Showbrook (1991 Juvenile) and Mr Brooks (1992 Sprint) failed to finish. The stable's best finish thus far was with Paco Boy, who was fourth in the 2010 Mile.
Plans call for Toronado, who is out of the Grand Slam mare Wana Doo, to begin stud duty in 2015 at The National Stud in Newmarket.