Torcedor back to his best at Ascot

Torcedor found conditions much more to his liking back at Ascot as he ran out a ready winner of the Longines Sagaro Stakes at Ascot.

Fifth in the Gold Cup and second on Champions Day, Jessica Harrington’s stayer obviously likes the terrain in Berkshire, certainly much more than in Dubai where he was last seen trailing home well beaten.

Colm O’Donoghue was very positive on the six-year-old, setting a steady pace before kicking on a long way from home.

Whatever was ailing him in the desert, he was clearly in better heart on this occasion and never looked in any danger.

Mark Johnston’s Time To Study gave chase in vain, while nothing else could get anywhere near as Torcedor ran out a five-length winner.

O’Donoghue said of the 9-4 favourite: “He was the class horse in the race and if he was to run to three-quarters of his best he should have beaten them today. He had the class form coming into the race.

“It was just unfortunate what happened in Dubai, but you are learning all the time. You travel that far and they lose weight and they either recover or don’t, but he has come back in great shape.

“He is from the same family as Yeats and has got that sort of body (big and strong) to him.”

Very impressive from Torcedor, who becomes the first Irish-trained winner of the
Longines Sagaro Stakes

Results ▶️ https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/p8p9Wfv9uY

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) May 2, 2018