The honour came following the gelding's surprise win in the Group One Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley last month.

A spritely eight-year-old Toledo is now in the twilight of his career according to his trainer, the former Morphettville based Russell Cameron.

Cameron was searching for the superlatives, like most others, when his son of At Talaq crossed the line a long head in front of the multiple Group One winner Show a Heart and another short head back to the talented Group Two winner North Boy.

"He's a champion this bloke," Cameron beamed after the race. "He was my first Group One winner a few years ago in Brisbane and he will always hold a special part of my heart."

A member of the Aquanita training establishment, Cameron even felt that the Australia Stakes could be Toledo's final race. "He has nothing more to prove and it would be a good way to go out."

But Cameron and owner Kate Torr decided the gelding would have atleast one more run. As we write he is preparing for an international race in Singapore. He is heading back to the Asian country when he ran such a gallant third last year in the Krisflyer Sprint.

Toledo, already a multiple South Australian Horse of the Month in previous years, is now the winner of eight races and prizemoney of $2.15 million.

A son of At Talaq, Toledo was bred by former South Australian David Weeks. The dual Group One winner and grand campaigner is a son of the mighty At Talaq, who stood with great success at Lindsay Park Stud near Angaston.

At Talaq, a son of the champion European galloper Roberto, was a Group One winner in both hemispheres. Before arriving in Australia the entire had already won the Grand Prix de Paris over 3000 metres at Longchamp in France. North of the equator he was also placed in the Grosser Pries von Baden at Baden Baden and the Italian Derby at Milano. He was also fourth in the English Derby at Epsom.

During his six-year-old and final season on the track At Talaq won the Group One double of the LKS Mackinnon Stakes and the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. He then resumed for his final preparation by scoring a sizzling win in the Group Two CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield. As well as those feature wins down under he also placed in a Caulfield Cup, Australian Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

At stud At Talaq has shone. He is the sire of the Group One winners Skating, Star of Maple, Al Mansour, Leica Smile and of course Toledo. His other Group winners include Ticket to Rome, Prince Standaan, Fuss, Il Don, Sarason, Staaraq, Not On Friday and Thackeray.

Toledo is out of the unraced Riverman mare Teneriffe, who is a half sister to the Group Three American winning galloper Forever Land and the stakes pair of Won Song and Bunker Boy.

To this day Teneriffe has had seven runners, and all have been winners. As well as Toledo she is the dam of the Northern Hemisphere stakes winners Less Than Zero and You Are My Sweety and the local stakes placed galloper Bart.

Her latest youngster, a bay colt by the multiple Group One winner King of Kings, was offered and passed in at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale in early April.

Toledo is now in the running to be crowned the Yalumba Horse of the Year for 2002. He joins fellow monthly award winner Regal Kiss (February) as one of the twelve finalists.

PICS - Quentin Lang.

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