Torcedor Wins Group 3 at Ascot


Torcedor (Fastnet Rock), part-owned by Pencarrow’s Sir Peter Vela, confirmed his place among Europe’s elite stayers with a powerful win in Wednesday’s £60,000 Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes (3200m) at world-famous Ascot Raecourse.

With Colm O’Donoghue in the saddle, the strong six-year-old led throughout the race and never looked in any danger of defeat. He drew away late in the piece to win by five lengths.

"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,” O’Donoghue said. “He had the class form coming into the race.

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

Torcedor was bought by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for 70,000 euro at the 2013 Deauville August Yearling Sale. He is a raced by a partnership that includes Ellis, Sir Peter Vela and Hall of Fame trainer Laurie Laxon.

Trained by Jessica Harrington, Torcedor has now had 18 starts for five wins, six placings and £151,681 in stakes.

This was his second Group 3 victory, and last season he finished second in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2800m), second in the Group 2 British Long Distance Cup (3200m) and fifth in the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4000m).