Royal Toronado won a Northam 3yo maiden like a horse going places this time last year before losing his way during an autumn prep aimed at the G2 WA Derby (2400m) in April.
He resumed this season at Pinjarra a fortnight ago for trainers Grant and Alana Williams and worked home nicely over 1200m behind Estimator (Universal Ruler). Stretching out another furlong at Northam last Thursday, he chased Estimator and this time won running away in the TABtouch Hcp (1400m).
“He’s a lovely horse and the owners have been patient,” Williams Racing noted after the two-length victory. “He hasn’t had a lot of luck but that all changed today! He was all the better for that first-up run and appreciated the step up in trip. We’ve always had an opinion of him and he clocked a slick 33.76s for the final 600m.”
Royal Toronado was a TBWA Winner Of The Week exactly a year ago in a landmark result for Amelia Park. “We’re thrilled to have our first winner with Williams Racing,” part-owner and breeder Peter Walsh said. “He’s out of our homebred mare Harada Queen who has had three to race for three winners.”
Harada Queen (Haradasun) had foaled American Queen (All American) and Disengo (Toronado) prior to another productive engagement with Swettenham Stud sire Tornado (Ire). Since then she has foaled Adam Durrant’s unraced 3yo Setagaya (Shooting To Win) and fillies by Nicconi and Frosted (USA).
The 12yo matron descends from Marooned Lady (Marooned) who foaled Special Harmony (G1 VRC Oaks), King Canute (G2 Perth Cup) and Redwoldt (G2 Karrakatta Plate). Special Harmony is the second-dam of Fangirl (Sebring) who was named NSW 2023-24 Horse of the Year at the Royal Randwick Ballroom on Thursday evening.
Amelia Park will be focused on Randwick again this Saturday when its Group 1 winning mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni) starts her spring campaign in the G2 Tramway Stakes (1400m). She won the WA Champion 4YO & Upwards Award for 2023-24 to become the first horse of the modern era to be crowned WA’s Champion 2YO, 3YO, and 4YO+.
