Toronado set to relocate to Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot

Toronado, Al Shaqab's champion three-year-old, is set to be transferred to Haras de Bouquetot in Normandy for the 2018 breeding season.

The son of High Chaparral, who has his first yearlings sell in the coming months, has stood the past three seasons at the National Stud in Newmarket.

The dual Group 1-winning miler, who is currently preparing for the start of the Australian breeding season at Swettenham Stud in Australia, will become the latest addition at Haras de Bouquetot as the Qatari operation look to consolidate their stallions at the Normandy stud.

He will join champion two-year-old Shalaa, another currently on shuttle duty in Australia. Also standing alongside this duo is the four-time Group 1 winner Olympic Glory; Prix Ganay winner Planteur and Classic winner Style Vendome.

Toronado went unbeaten at two, winning the Group 2 Champagne Stakes on his third and final start of the season. He achieved a peak RPR of 129 for his half-length defeat of Dawn Approach in the Sussex Stakes as a three-year-old and became the highest rated miler in Europe in 2013. He returned at four to win the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot from Verrazano and was second in both the Sussex Stakes and Prix du Moulin.

The Toronado colt sold to Jim McCartan for 190,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

His first crop of foals were positively received in both hemispheres. In the UK and Ireland his 41 foals to sell averaged just shy of 35,000gns, with the highlight a half-brother to Group 3 winner Agent Murphy that sold to MC Bloodstock for 190,000gns.

Ben Sangster, chairman of the National Stud, commented: "It has been a pleasure for the Jockey Club to have stood and facilitated Toronado for Al Shaqab Racing at The National Stud. The horse has covered 365 quality mares during the three years that he has stood with us, which will have given him a great chance to succeed and fulfil his tremendous potential as a high-class stallion.

"Now the horse will return to his owner's stud in France after serving his third southern hemisphere season at Swettenham Stud."

"We are delighted to receive such a high-profile stallion as Toronado here at Bouquetot," added Benoit Jeffroy, Haras de Bouquetot's stud manager.

"Al Shaqab Racing have bred some outstanding foals and yearlings by him here at the farm, including out of Group/Grade 1 mares such as Zagora, Strawberrydaiquiri, Shotgun Gulch, Scarlet Strike, Eden's Moon etc.

"In 2017 we supported him with 25 of Al Shaqab's private mares. There is little doubt that he will make an impact at the yearling sales starting next week, and we are excited that he will be made available to the French breeders the same year as his first two-year-olds are going to hit the track."

He stood the past season at £12,500, down from £15,000 in his first and second seasons. A 2018 stud fee for Toronado will be announced at a later stage.