Toronado looks likely to run in Queen Elizabeth Stakes after successful operation

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on British Champions Day is increasingly looking like the end of season target for Richard Hannon’s Toronado.

The Sussex Stakes winner has successfully undergone a medical procedure after dislocating his soft palate when last to Declaration of War in York’s International Stakes last month and the Ascot race on October 19, a move back to a mile, has been nominated as a comeback target.

A shot at the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in California a fortnight later had previously been mentioned as an alternative option.



But Richard Hannon jnr, assistant to his father, said: ‘Toronado is fine. He is on his way back and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is probably where he’ll run.’ 

Last appearance: Toronado (right) is set for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes

The Hannon stable and their No 1 jockey, champion Richard Hughes, normally find Goodwood a lucrative hunting ground but Tuesday’s meeting passed without success as Tea In Transvaal, Wahaab and Expert all missed out despite making the frame.

Tea In Tranvaal was beaten by a head by the promising Uchenna. She holds an entry in the Group One Fillies Mile but her trainer David Simcock said that option was unlikely to be taken up.

Simcock said: ‘She ran a nice race first time. She has a future but is mentally slow and learning. She would not want the ground much quicker. We’ll just find one more race for her this season and that will be it.’

Hard-pulling third-placed Wahaab was left over five lengths behind Mark Johnston’s Lyn Valley (2-1) as he edged out Rosso Corsa by a neck under Joe Fanning in the seven-furlong Peter Willett Conditions Stakes.

Lyn Valley, a son of Shamardal who cost 42,000gn, had opened his account at Newmarket last month after narrowly missing out in a Goodwood maiden in July.

Deirdre Johnston, representing her husband, said: ‘He is entered in next week's Champagne Stakes at Doncaster as well as two of the valuable Tattersalls sales races at Newmarket on September 21 and October 5. There is so much money on offer in those I would imagine we'll be tempted.’

Joyeuse, the Lady Cecil-trained half-sister to Frankel, will have her third run and first since finishing third to Kiyoshi in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot when she faces five rivals in the Listed Dick Poole Fillies Stakes at Salisbury on Thursday.

Retired two-mile chaser Direct Route has been put down after breaking his leg while in his paddock on Monday. The gelding, who was trained by Howard Johnson, won 15 of his 40 starts including scoring five times at group one level.