Trish Dunell
New Zealand interests at Royal Ascot were delighted with Torcedor’s gallant overnight effort for third in the Gr.1 Ascot Gold Cup (4000m).
With jockey Colm O’Donoghue sporting the Te Akau silks, the son of Fastnet Rock settled second before hitting the front 400m from home and stayed on strongly to finish behind Stradivarius and Vazirabad.
“He drew the outside and I thought it was a terrific run,” Te Akau principal David Ellis said. “It was a fantastic effort and I was really proud of him.
“The Gold Cup is an incredibly prestigious race, one of the best staying tests in the world, and ultimately the Queen presents the cup to the owners, so it’s an amazing event.”
Ellis purchased Torcedor at the 2013 Deauville Yearling Sales for 70,000 euros (NZ$115,000) and his New Zealand owners include Sir Patrick Hogan, Sir Peter Vela and Laurie Laxon.
Trained by Jessica Harrington in Ireland, Torcedor has won five races including two at Group Three level – the Sagaro Stakes (3000m) and the Vintage Crop Stakes (2800m).
“He’ll have a bit of a breather back in Ireland now,” Ellis said. “He’s a horse that’s improving all the time, a pretty exciting staying prospect and he could win the Gold Cup next year.”