Toronado (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) has been ruled out of Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot and will now head straight to the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.
The 4-year-old was one of the leading contenders for the QIPCO-sponsored event over a mile on Champions Day after defeating American ex-pat Verrazano (More Than Ready) in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot and claiming second in both the G1 Sussex S. and G1 Prix du Moulin. However, the Richard Hannon-trained colt will sidestep the Ascot feature due to the likely testing conditions, with connections instead focusing on a trip to California. Harry Herbert, racing manager for owner Al Shaqab Racing, confirmed the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Nov. 1 to now be his intended target.
“The decision has been taken today that, due to the ground, we will bypass Ascot and head for the Breeders' Cup Mile instead,” Herbert stated. “He loves fast ground and conditions at Ascot don't look like they will suit. It's disappointing for us, and Champions Day, that he won't be running but we have to do what's best for the horse. “The Breeders' Cup race looks spot on for him, even more so now as the favorite [Wise Dan] won't be running, so we will go there instead.”
The decision leaves regular rider Richard Hughes free to partner G1 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the race. The champion jockey deserted the colt in his surprise Classic strike and Ryan Moore was aboard as Night Of Thunder returned from a mid-season break with a third in the Prix du Moulin.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager for Night Of Thunder's owner Saeed Manana, said, “He definitely runs and we're hoping Hughesie is going to ride him.”
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