Royal Toronado notched his first black-type victory in the LR Pinjarra Cup (2300m) on Sunday and it won’t be the last for Amelia Park owner Peter Walsh and trainers Grant & Alana Williams.

He went out a short-priced favourite following a last-start victory at Ascot and gave his rivals short-shrift to score by more than two lengths from Silver Eye (Sessions) and Rocking Society (Awesome Rock).

Royal Toronado (5g Toronado – Harada Queen by Haradasun) was bred and sold by Walsh for $100,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions and he retained a share in a large syndicate that’s banked $430,000 to date.

Winning jockey Willie Pike also reported the quick step up in distance from 1200m to 1800m to 2300m in three starts this prep wasn’t a problem in transit.  “It panned out perfectly in the running line although he did hit the front a bit early in the straight.  He toughed it out over the journey and was strong at the finish to hold them at bay.

“He’s a kind-natured horse which will go a long way to helping him get over longer distances.  That was a very good training performance to have him ready to run out 2300m today and he could make a Perth Cup (2400m) horse next season.

Swettenham Stud’s Group 1 shuttler Toronado (High Chaparral) sired him from Harada Queen (Haradasun) who is owned by Walsh in partnership with Brian Bradley and John Cipriani.

Harada Queen descends from Marooned Lady (Marooned) who won the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in 1995 for Tilden Park owner Dallas Dempster.  She went to another level at stud foaling Special Harmony (G1 VRC Oaks), King Canute (G2 Perth Cup) and Redwoldt (G2 Karrakatta Plate).

Special Harmony is the second-dam of Fangirl (Sebring) who notched her fourth Group 1 in the 2025 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.  She is recovering from bone-chip surgery and connections are looking forward to a farewell campaign in the second-half of this season.