The penultimate winner of the opening day at Chester, Tornado Tower, may be set a Royal Ascot target if the yard can get another run into him for the handicaps.
The son of Frankel was tenderly handled on debut at Nottingham, with a running on second to the Godolphin favourite. With James Doyle taking over, Tornado Tower was well backed in the TMT Group Maiden Stakes to win by two-lengths.
It was a professional performance, and he’s bred to be a smart colt. By Frankel, his dam was rated 103 after taking listed honours at Saint-Cloud. Hailing from a talented Agan Khan dam-line, he’s a half-brother to the yards smart stayer Sweet William and 2021 St Leger winner Hurricane Lane.
Should time be on his side, the Gosdens are likely to run him again for a handicap at the Royal meeting. Speaking to the Press Association, via At The Races, John Gosden said: “He’s nicely bred and a grand horse and he ran well at Nottingham first time out. We gave him a nice time in between and he’s done really well physically.
“Over a mile and a quarter round here you learn a lot, this was just his second start. Once he got the hang of it he travelled well into the race. And now we know he’s fine over a mile and a quarter. But you could step him up to a mile and a half whenever you want.
“You could put in a few fancy entries as well” – John Gosden
The manner of the success suggested we’re dealing with an above average colt, which was mirrored by his handler. Gosden continued to discuss further plans, stating: “Royal Ascot might come too soon, but we could get another run and then look at the handicaps. You could put in a few fancy entries as well if you wanted. And we could certainly squeeze another run in comfortably.
“Whether we wind up in the mile-and-a-half handicap or the mile-and-a-quarter handicap or maybe even the King Edward VII. I don’t know, but we’re delighted with him here.
“The owners have been very patient with him which has been incredibly helpful.”
While it was an impressive performance, the slight caveat was the odds on favourite failed to give his running. The Fahey’s Arabian Desert, who was second in the Horris Hill as a two-year-old, weakened markedly late on with no plausible explanation. Regardless, it was a pleasing effort and it will be fascinating to see how his season unfolds.