2023 has been another stellar year for Torryburn Stud with a new Group I winner and a Hong Kong Derby winner added to the tally and their Magic Millions draft for the Gold Coast holds the promise of more star performers to come.
Torryburn Stud bred horses have had plenty of success in Hong Kong through the likes of now retired Champion HK Sprinter Hot King Prawn and current multiple Group winner Straight Arron with the rich Hong Kong Derby this year won by the horse that topped the 2020 Inglis Classic Sale for them in Voyage Bubble.
The Deep Field gelding has been a superstar for Ricky Yiu this year winning the Hong Kong Derby and Classic Mile before closing out his year with a gallant second to the legendary Golden Sixty in the Group I Hong Kong International Mile.
On the home front, Star Thoroughbreds colour bearer Espiona went from strength to strength winning the Group I ATC Coolmore Classic in the autumn before returning to win the Group II ATC Golden Pendant and the $2million The Invitation. Her last run of 2023 was a gallant fourth in the $3million Group I VRC Darley Champions Sprint setting her up for more success in 2024.
Plucked from the Magic Millions Torryburn draft for just $190,000 by Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency, Espiona has won seven of 18 starts earning just shy of $3million!
Torryburn Stud will present a draft of 11 with highlights below:
Lot 61 Filly King’s Legacy x Progressive, by Street Cry (IRE)
From the first crop of dual Group I winning juvenile King’s Legacy, who was a $1.4million purchase from this sale. She is a half-sister to two winners from a metro winning sister to the dam of Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes winner Tom Kitten. This is the family of champion sire Redoute’s Choice and this Twyla branch of the family has produced three Group I winners in 2023 with Desert Lightning and In Italian in addition to Tom Kitten.
Her pedigree features champion sires Redoute’s Choice and Street Cry (IRE), who have a great affinity and appear in the pedigrees of 23 stakes-winners highlighted by five Group I winners including Australian Horse of the Year Anamoe, Golden Slipper winning Champion 2YO Farnan and $5.8million earning multiple Group I winning sprinter Trekking.
Lot 310 Filly Brazen Beau x Toryjoy, by Street Cry (IRE)
Well stamped by Brazen Beau, she is the first foal of a multiple stakes-placed five time winner of over $500,000 in Toryjoy, a half-sister to stakes-winner Landing from Group III winner Joy of Flight and comes from a super versatile family that has produced Group I WATC Derby winner Good Journey as well as Group I winning sprinter Griante.
Bred on similar I Am Invincible x Street Cry cross to Group II winner Shuffle Dancer and stakes-winner Waltz on By.
Lot 500 Filly Deep Field x California Rogusta, by Fastnet Rock
By now retired Champion Hong Kong Sire Deep Field and is the first foal of an unraced mare by Fastnet Rock that made $1million as a yearling at Inglis Easter in 2019 and comes from a stellar female family featuring Group I winners Holy Roman emperor and Sherwood Forest tracing back to legendary matriarch Fanfreluche.
Bred on successful Deep Field x Fastnet Rock cross that has produced 23 winners from 29 starters headed by Group winners Quantum Mechanic and Big Parade.
Lot 567 Filly Toronado (IRE) x De Chorus Line, by The Factor (USA)
A rare grey filly by proven G1 sire Toronado and is the first foal of an unraced half-sister to Group I winning Champion Hong Kong Sprinter Hot King Prawn and dual Group III winner Siren’s Fury as well as the dam of rising star stayer First Immortal, who zoomed through the grades in 2023 to finish Group III placed with over $500,000 in earnings.
Being completely Danehill free she will be a very valuable commodity in the future as a broodmare prospect if Black Type comes her way.
Lot 576 Colt Capitalist x Denmagic, by Denman
Third foal of very talented mare Denmagic, multiple Group placed and third in the Group I VRC Myer Classic with earnings in excess of $440,000, from the family of Group winners Magic Albert and Go the Knuckle.
Bred on similar Written Tycoon x Denman cross to 2023 Group III MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes winner Run Harry Run, three wins from four starts!
Lot 809 Filly Exceed and Excel x Jedastar, by I Am Invincible
Second foal of fast Group III placed Jedastar, who was bought by Torryburn for $1million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and her first foal The Stars (2f Zoustar) has been retained and is in work with Chris Waller. She had her first trial on Friday morning at Rosehill and showed great natural talent to lead and was held together to the line finishing a lovely third in quick time. Eye-catching effort from a stable that does not send their juveniles out to fire in trials. She will spell now and be back in the autumn - very exciting!
Second and third dams Devoirs and Velasco are stakes-winner and Group II, so it’s a quality Black Type female family and I Am Invincible mares increasingly making their presence felt as sire of the dams of Group I placed Group II winner Asfoora, spring stakes-winner Kalino and glamour G1 placed filly Kimochi as well as Magic Millions 2YO Classic contender Straight Charge.