Europe: Toronado takes Dawn Approach in final strides of Sussex Mile

With a well-timed ride from champion jockey Richard Hughes, Toronado won Wednesday’s $455,000 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in southern England, defeating rival 3-year-old Dawn Approach for the first time this year.

Hughes kept Toronado toward the back of the seven-horse field for the first half-mile of the Group 1 race over a right-handed mile course. With a quarter-mile remaining, Toronado was third, in pursuit of Dawn Approach and Declaration of War. Toronado (11-4) went past Declaration of War in the final sixteenth, but did not catch Dawn Approach until the final strides, winning by a half-length.

Dawn Approach (10-11) held second, 2 1/2 lengths in front of Declaration of War.

Toronado, an Irish-bred colt by High Chaparral, races for Sheikh Joann Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar and is trained by Richard Hannon. Earlier this year, Toronado finished fourth behind Dawn Approach in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May and was second by a short head to that rival in the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Toronado is a candidate for the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville, France, on Aug. 11.

Hannon and Hughes had three wins on Wednesday’s seven-race Goodwood program, including the Group 2 Vintage Stakes for 2-year-olds with Toormore, who is unbeaten in two starts.

◗ Tickled Pink and Kingsgate Native, the first two finishers of the Group 3 Coral Charge at Sandown Park on July 6, are part of a field of 18 in Friday’s $153,000 King George Stakes over a straightaway five furlongs at Goodwood.

Tickled Pink won the Coral Charge over five furlongs by a length as the 5-2 favorite, although the 8-year-old Kingsgate Native raced in traffic in the final furlong. Kingsgate Native won the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock Park in May.