Timeform rate Toronado the world’s best three-year-old

Toronado comes to conquer his old rival Dawn Approach in a thrilling climax to their Duel on the Downs clash at Glorious Goodwood. Image copyright of Racingfotos.com

Leading global form company Timeform has rated Toronado superior to Dawn Approach after the pair’s Duel on the Downs clash in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, with Toronado coming out as the world’s best three-year-old in training.

Richard Hannon’s colt, who had previously failed to beat the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas winner in two attempts, has been given a Timeform figure of 133 following his half-length victory at Glorious Goodwood.

Despite recording impressive sectional times, Dawn Approach has been given a revised rating of 132 – 1lb lower than his rival – but higher than his pre-Duel on the Downs figure of 130. However, Toronado has now leap-frogged Dawn Approach, from his previous rating of 129, and is now regarded as the best three-year-old in the world by Timeform.

Timeform’s Flat Editor, David Johnson, commented: “There have been some fantastic clashes at Goodwood down the years, but this one has to be right up there. We saw two top-class three-year-olds pull well clear of a very reliable Group 1 winner in third, and in a very good time.

“Toronado had excuses when beaten in the 2000 Guineas and at Royal Ascot, but showed what he is really capable of yesterday. A rating of 133 puts him on a par with the same stable’s Canford Cliffs, who won the Sussex in 2010.

“The sectional times confirm that the race was run at a strong gallop, and supporters of Dawn Approach can point to the fact that he raced closer to it than Toronado. All evidence points to there being very little between the pair, setting up another rematch in the QEII as something to savour.”

Richard Hughes produced a superbly-timed ride on Toronado, which resulted in a faster official time, on good to soft ground, than the mighty Frankel’s two Sussex Stakes victories. However, Toronado’s Timeform rating is still two stone inferior to the officially greatest racehorse of all time.

The colt’s performance, though, was good enough to warrant a higher Timeform mark than the impressive King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes German winner Novellist, who is on 132.

The Official BHA Ratings of the Duel on the Downs clash will be announced next week on Tuesday.

Both Toronado and Dawn Approach are expected to battle again on British Champions Day in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. In anticipation of_­ the pair’s season finale, tickets are being sold at a rapid rate. Make sure you don’t miss out! Tickets are available now.