Toronado throws down QIPCO 2000 Guineas gauntlet

Toronado coasts to victory in the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes on the Rowley Mile. Next stop the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Toronado made all for an easy and highly impressive victory in the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes at Newmarket this afternoon, run over the same course and distance as the QIPCO 2000 Guineas two weeks on Saturday.

With only four runners it was a very tactical affair, but no one could crab the style of Toronado’s four length victory, especially as he was giving three pounds in weight to his rivals.

He led from the start and, after dictating a fairly sedate early pace, quickened smartly with a furlong to go to put the race to bed.

The victorious jockey, Richard Hughes, never had to use his whip as he coasted to the winning line, while stable-mate Havana Gold snatched second place from Dundonnell, with the Godolphin runner Tawhid never in contention in fourth place.

The QIPCO 2000 Guineas now beckons for the Toronado, although the equally accomplished Olympic Glory represents exactly the same owner-trainer-jockey combination in his big Guineas trial at Newbury on Saturday.

Richard Hannon said afterwards: "He’s a machine. We’ve always known it but he’s proved it today.

“He quickened and he quickened again. He’s a very, very good horse.

"He’ll come back for the Guineas and what beats him will win I guess.

"If you look at him there he’s not quite there in his coat, but in a fortnight’s time he’ll come back here looking a lot better than he did today.

"He’s worked so well and worked with a lot of good horses like Olympic Glory who runs in the Greenham on Saturday. He’s another good horse.

“I’d say he’s [Toronado] the top of my pecking order. Thank goodness they belong to the same man, we can switch the other one to the French Guineas."