A tribute to Toormore
Thu 22 Mar 2018
We were deeply saddened to hear yesterday that the wonderful TOORMORE has died. His trainer Charlie Appleby's announcement can be seen in the Racing Post here: http://bit.ly/2pqinlq
He was a game-changer for us when winning our first Group 1 in 2013 and being crowned Champion 2 year old that year. He also changed the lives of his syndicate of owners who went on a journey with him that will forever be in their hearts and minds. James Pak, who was the major share holder and also named him, said "Toormore was a legend and dream maker; he gave all his owners a fantastic journey to the highest level of racing. A Champion horse with a massive heart, loved by many and will always be part of racing history. May his memories always be happy ones. Rest and run free in green pastures far, RIP Toormore my beautiful friend who will always be a big part of my life. "
His CV in his time with us reads like a fairytale:
- 2013 European Champion 2-year-old Colt
- Highest OR 122
- £475,551 of prize money won
- Won the 2013 Group 1 Goffs National Stakes, The Curragh
- Won the 2013 Group 2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes, Goodwood
- Won the 2014 Group 3 Craven Stakes, Newmarket
- 2nd in the Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury
- 3rd in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot
- 2nd in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood
- 3rd in the Group 2 International Topkapi Trophy in Istanbul
Middleham Park and leading Bloodstock agents Peter and Ross Doyle purchased him at the 2012 DBS (now known as Goffs) Premier Yearling sale for £36k. Under the training regime of Richard Hannon Senior, (in his last season holding the license at Herridge,) Toormore’s 2-year-old campaign could not have been better. After an unbeaten season, winning his maiden on debut, following that with the Group 2 Vintage Stakes and his Group 1 at The Curragh, he was subsequently crowned ‘European Champion 2-year-old Colt’. He went on to pick up the Craven Stakes next time out and with two more Group 1 placings, amassed the phenomenal amount of prize money mentioned above for his syndicate; belying his purchase price.
A high-class miler, he perpetuated Middleham Park’s omnipresence at all the top-class meetings and as a result, his syndicate agreed to sell him to Godolphin, who saw him as a horse with a profile that was very appealing to their operation.
Tim says: "Toormore was an absolute legend of a horse for us as he cost only 36,000gns and went on to become champion two-year-old in 2013, when he was competing with all the bluebloods. He was a real game-changer for Middleham Park as we became 50 per cent bigger as an operation because of him. Richard Hughes used to get on well with him and he went on to do well for Godolphin. He's been a hard act to follow as to get another one like him on our budget is nigh on impossible these days."
You can see a few of the wonderful moments he gave us in the gallery to the right. We thank James for sharing some of his favourite photographs and thank Toormore for the wonderful memories-he was the horse of a lifetime.
Rest in peace Champ.