TOP NOTCH TONTO (IRE)
11 April 2010 ch g Thousand Words – Elite Hope 
(USA)
Owner: Keith Brown
Breeder: Seamus Finucane

During the summer of 2013, Top Notch Tonto arrived at Spring Cottage Stables.

One of the kindest, sweet-natured horses anyone is ever likely to meet, his fans and following have been, and will no doubt continue to be, devoted, enthusiastic and loyal. Tonto has his own Facebook page and Twitter account. He has been wonderful to train and we have truly loved being a part of the Top Notch Tonto story.

His career with us was a bit of a rollercoaster, with several injuries sustained a long the way, and that first season here, without doubt, was his best.

Following a winning debut in a Newmarket Handicap, he won a Group 3 at Haydock and Listed event at Redcar before running an absolute blinder to finish second to Olympic Glory in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The following season he struggled a bit and although he did not manage to get his head in front he put in some game performances in defeat including second in the Clipper Logistic Stakes at York and a close-up fourth in the valuable Group 2, Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown.

In the summer of 2015 he won a Listed race at York and once again ran some cracking races in defeat and he finished even closer, second to Custom Cut, in the aforementioned Boomerang Stakes that year.

His 2016 campaign started off a tad disappointing but he bounced back to form when returning to Ireland for the Galway Festival, running a blinder to finish second in the competitive Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap. A little tender after the race he subsequently missed lining up in the “Ahonoora” Handicap on the final day, which had been the plan. On further investigation he was found to have a hairline fracture of his near-fore cannon bone. His season was brought to a premature end.

We were delighted to have him back in the yard as a seven-year-old in 2017 but following several disappointing runs the decision was made for him to go back to his owner, Keith Brown, for a summer holiday with no immediate plans on his future.

Top Notch Tonto has been wonderful for the yard.

Following some good performances across the Irish Sea these last couple of years however, Keith has decided to take on an Irish Flat campaign with him this season and he will be trained in Ireland.

He will be sadly missed but we wish him all the very best in the future and a truly happy retirement when that day arrives.

Brian: “Tonto has been a fantastic horse to have in the yard and we will always be grateful for the time we have had him here at Spring Cottage. His temperament is second to none and he is one of the kindest horses we have ever had to deal with. A very special horse.”

More photos of Tonto can be viewed in the Gallery

 published May 2018