Glorious Goodwood

2012 Sussex Stakes

racing news/

Toronado Exacts Revenge in Sussex Stakes
31/07/13

1 Toronado 11/4
2 Dawn Approach 10/11F
3 Declaration Of War 7/2
7 ran Distances: ½l, 2½l, 5l
TIME 1m 36.29s (fast by 0.71s)

The QIPCO Sussex Stakes was billed beforehand as ‘the Duel on the Downs’ and the Group 1 contest did not disappoint as Toronado finished with a wet-sail to beat his big rival Dawn Approach by half a length.

Toronado
© Racehorse Photos

Toronado, who received a big cheer from the crowd, had lost out to Dawn Approach in both the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes and winning training Richard Hannon was pleased to set the record straight.

“I’d say they are two top-class horses,” said Hannon. “I told Hughesie to drop in, it was the only thing he could do from that draw. I didn’t want him to catch the pacemakers coming back.

“It was looking difficult two furlongs out but our horse has a hell of a turn of foot.

“Hughesie rode him at home four or five days ago and said he was the best he’d ever ridden, even better than Canford Cliffs, who was a very good work horse.

“I’d have loved him to have won at Ascot but I was just very happy to see him come back to form after his Guineas run.”

Looking to the future, Hannon’s son and assistant Richard added: “We’ll see how he comes out of this but the Jacques Le Marois and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes are the obvious races.

“He’ll stick to a mile this year but he’ll stay in training next season when perhaps he could step up to 10 furlongs at some point.”

Dawn Approach
© Racehorse Photos

Jockey Richard Hughes added: “He’s proved he’s a brilliant horse. My plan was ‘wide, fast and late’ and luckily it worked. I didn’t want to get into a battle with Dawn Approach so I wanted to get there late and fast.

“They went a good gallop and we saw two wonderful horses, I’m just glad our’s was the most wonderful horse. It’s very sweet.

“When I kicked him in the belly he was not as instant on that ground as he would have been on fast ground. It was a great race and, when I didn’t go by Dawn Approach quickly I thought ‘oh no here we go again’ but he was very brave. He’s brilliant

“I felt he had come on a little bit at home mentally and he was a more mature horse.

“It was a true race and I was always travelling well. It was just when I went to go, it wasn’t quite as instant as it is in the mornings. I would like to thank Sheikh Joaan for letting me ride him. I read in the paper that I’d keep the ride if we won today so hopefully I can keep riding him.”

Jim Bolger, trainer of Dawn Approach, commented: “It was a top performance. We were just beaten by a better horse on the day.

“I am not concerned with a rematch. We still have to figure out exactly where we go from here. Whatever turns up, turns up. There are a couple of possibilities but time will tell all.”

Qipco Sussex Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£300,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Soft