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- Forza Toro emulates brother in winning Dundalk maiden
John O'Riordan
Forza Toro emulates brother in winning Dundalk maiden
Forza Toro and Ronan Whelan
© Photo Healy Racing
The Johnny Feane trained Forza Toro emulated his full-brother Anatoli when gaining a first career success in the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Median Auction Maiden at Dundalk.
The latter horse, also trained by Feane, had made a winning racecourse debut at the same track back in 2021.
Forza Toro shaped with distinct promise on his initial outing at Gowran Park in September, getting to the front over a furlong out before lack of experience proved his downfall.
Sent off a well backed 5/6f (from 2/1), the colt tracked the leaders into the straight under Ronan Whelan before being sent on over a furlong out.
Soon clear, the Feane trained juvenile stayed on well to win by four lengths.
Johnny Feane said: "He had a nice run the first day and that was just sort of an ideal opportunity for him today.
"He'll go on good ground. He's a good-actioned horse and he'll certainly go on good ground.
"He stayed the seven well, he could probably step up in time. He has a lot of class.
"I think we have run a couple of two-year-olds this year and both of them have won - Fregada and him - so they are two exciting horses.
"The form worked out (in Gowran Park, winner then finished second in a Group 2 at Doncaster).
"There was a couple of 70-rated horses and Ronan said they weren't good enough to lead him. It is a nice thing to say about him.
"Possibly not (anything here for him the rest of the year) - we will talk to the owner and make a plan, turf and Polytrack.
"He's just a good horse."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.