Tongue-tie Planned for Toronado in St James’s Palace Stakes

5/13/13 - Champion trainer, Richard Hannon, believes he may have the answer to the mystery of why his classy colt, Toronado, stopped so quickly in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month after seemingly travelling strongly two furlongs from home.

Toronado was heavily backed in the horse racing betting to make the favourite and eventual impressive winner, Dawn Approach, look to his laurels in the first colts’ classic of the season.

However, after looking likely to give the Irish star plenty to think about, he capitulated quickly and faded fast into fourth place, eventually beaten more than seven lengths.

The Hannon team were quick to suggest that the High Chaparral colt had failed to run his race and, as soon as they returned home, had him thoroughly checked out.

Although all his blood tests came back fine, the vets believe that Toronado may well have suffered a displaced palate, which would explain why he stopped so quickly having travelled into the race going strongly. A tongue-tie is expected to make all the difference next time out.

Royal Ascot is the next stop for the tremendously impressive Group 3 Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes winner, who was unbeaten as a juvenile and may yet go to the top of the tree this term if he overcomes whatever ailed him on the Rowley Mile.

Timeform Daily pundits have always held Toronado in high regard and believe it is far too early to write him off after meeting the first defeat of his career.

Officially rated 121, the 55,000 euro yearling landed the Group 2 One Call Insurance Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster last September, showing plenty of spirit to get the better of a sustained duel with the Roger Charlton-trained Dundonnel.

He won a maiden on his debut at Newbury in June before following up in listed company at Ascot the following month.