Lonhro stallion Torch Relay will stand his first season at Park Crest Stud in 2010.  A Woodlands bred half-brother to Group 1 winner Sports, he is part of a new-look roster at the Tasmanian stud.  Park Crest owner Phillip Swinton has also signed Argentine bred sprinter Estambul to join resident stallions Mr Innocent and Brilliant Leader at the Westbury based nursery.

Torch Relay was sold to clients of Spreyton trainer Michael Trinder shortly after Sheikh Mohammed purchased the Woodlands operation lock, stock and barrel.

The new owners changed his name to Fire Engine Guy and the colt created a big impression winning second-up at Devonport in March 2009.  Trinder opted to throw him in against older horses at Launceston 10 days later and the colt responded to score another determined victory.  He raced handy to the home turn and then burst clear of the pack before defying the late closers in the dying stages.

The decision to run the youngster out of his age group came after a surging track gallop against a much better performed stablemate.  “He beat Cash For Shaw one morning and that horse would have easily won a Class 1,” Trinder recalled.  “I don’t train a lot of two-year-olds but he was definitely the first youngster I put up against older horses.”

A breathing problem restricted the colt to just six starts but he showed more than enough ability to warrant a chance at stud.  And his pedigree refuses to stand still.

Lonhro is Australia’s leading third-season sire and rarely a week goes by without another black-type addition to his stakes winner tally.  Last Saturday it was Beaded’s turn to salute in the G3 BRC Sprint at Doomben.

Lonhro has sired 124 winners to date at a 62% strike rate.  His oldest are four year-olds and Torch Relay joins O’Lonhro (Larneuk Stud) as his first sons to go to stud.

Torch Relay is the last foal of wonderful Woodlands producer Olympic Flame.  The best of her 9 winners was Sports (Zeditave) who won 16 races including the G1 VRC Lightning Stakes and G1 VATC Oakleigh Plate.

Her other black-type winners were G3 Newcastle Coca-Cola Classic winner Medals (Crown Jester) and G2 AJC Silver Shadow Stakes winner Seika (Canny Lad).

Torch Relay is also a three-quarter brother to Darley’s promising Lonhro colt Territory.  He is trained by Lee Freedman and won a Sale maiden by more than three lengths on May 9.

Estambul (Arg) was based at Ealing Park in Victoria before his relocation to Park Crest.  He is a Nureyev line stallion and is one of the fastest horses ever imported to Australia after clocking 54.21s to win a Group 1 over 1000m in Buenos Aires.

Brighton based sprinter-miler Waddington is among the 21 winners from Estambul’s first crop.  He has won 6 races up to 1600m, the last of them in Hobart on May 9.  His second crop includes the Dave Brunton trained gelding Obstinado who won the Launceston 3YO Classic in February.  

Torch Relay and Estambul will both stand for a $4,400 (inc gst) service fee.  Mr Innocent (Mr Henrysee) is priced at $3,300 and Brilliant Leader (Danehill) is $2,750.

For further info, Phillip and Cindy Swinton’s contacts are – Tel: (03) 6393 1193 or Email:  parkcreststud@bigpond.com