In a quiet week for local trainers, two winners from the district shared notable similarities. 
Wangaratta trainer Craig Weeding headed north to Narrandera last Saturday with five-year-old maiden mare Bella Katelyn, who went into her race having had just four starts, all on right-handed tracks, most recently a second placing at Narrandera on June 13.
 This time the mare started a $1.75 favourite and left nothing to chance, leading for the entire 1400-metre journey in the hands of apprentice Cassidy Hill, winning by 2.61 lengths. 
Bella Katelyn is by the Swettenham stallion Toronado out of the Savabeel mare Belavynshi. Her pedigree accordingly carries the famed High Chaparral-Zabeel cross. 
The mare is typical of the offspring of Toronado in that they tend to be late-maturing, no doubt due to the High Chaparral and Sadler’s Wells influences in the sireline.
Earlier in the week Seymour’s Matt Ivill was successful on the Pakenham synthetic track with another maiden five-year-old by Toronado, Rip Current ($4.90), in the Hygain Edge Maiden Plate (1400m). 
Rip Current was also having just his fifth start. Jockey Damian Lane led out early with the horse before settling in third place on the rails. Rip Current and Aurora’s Belt raced clear in the straight before Macca’s Angel launched a late challenge, with Rip Current just holding on. 
Toronado has proved himself a versatile sire, leaving winners at most distances — he’s had eight individual Group 1 winners at distances from 1100 metres to 2400 metres among 49 stakes winners worldwide. 
Toronado himself won two Group 1s as well as at Group 2 and Group 3 level. 
Toronado stands at Swettenham Stud in Nagambie, where he paraded on Sunday, reportedly in high spirits.