Toronado (IRE) has a good record in Hong Kong and he had an eye-catching debut winner at Sha Tin on Sunday that can further enhance his reputation.
Dashing grey three year-old gelding Red Elegance was a short priced favourite for the 1000m Class 4 event and strode clear to win by more than two lengths for Zac Purton.
Trained by Jamie Richards, he had been trialling well in Hong Kong earlier this year following a Cranbourne barrier trial win last September.
An $80,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Riverina Downs draft for Dynasty Towns Bloodstock, Red Elegance is the first winner for Esteemed Elegance (NZ), a winning half-sister by Sir Percy (IRE) to stakes-placed Queen Takes King and to the dam of Group III winner White Noise.
Toronado has had 16 winners from 20 runners in Hong Kong with multiple stakes-winner Senor Toba the best of them followed by stakes-placed Lucky Express.
Toronado has already had his fee released for this spring with Swettenham Stud keeping him at $88,000.