2020 has been a tough year for The Queen, who at age 94 has spent much of it in isolation at Windsor Castle, but there is no doubt she would have got plenty of joy when her homebred two year-old Toronado colt Tactical captured the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes (5f) at Royal Ascot overnight.
Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by James Doyle, Tactical showed promise when third on debut at Newmarket in June 4 and ran right up to expectation when forging clear to win by more than a length as favourite.
“Tactical was showing a fair bit at home before his debut and learned plenty at Newmarket. We were quite hopeful and the draw looked more of a help than a hindrance,” said Balding.
“He's very professional and it's a huge thrill for all of us to have a royal winner at the royal meeting. It's very special. I think he'll be better over six furlongs but we felt the Coventry would be a much stronger race.”
Tactical is the sixth stakes-winner worldwide for High Chaparral’s top class son Toronado (IRE), who shuttles to Swettenham Stud in Victoria and stands this spring at a fee of $27,500.
He is the first winner for stakes-placed Makfi mare Make Fast, a daughter of Group III winner Raymi Coya.
