In the summer of 2013 he developed a rivalry with Dawn Approach and defeated the Irish colt to record his most important win in the Sussex Stakes.

[2] In December 2010, the foal was consigned by the Haras d'Ommeel to the Arqana Sales at Deauville where he was bought for €40,000 by representatives of the British Bloodstock Agency (Ireland).

Starting the 1/3 favourite in a field of six runners, he took the lead entering the final furlong and won by two lengths from the filly Strictly Silca.

Hughes sent Toronado into the lead from the start and held off the challenge of the favourite inside the final furlong to win by half a length.

[8] In the 2012 European Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, he was given a rating of 114, placing him in equal ninth, ten pounds below the top-rated Dawn Approach.

[13] Toronado returned to racing at Royal Ascot on 18 June when he started the 5/1 third favourite for the St James's Palace Stakes behind Dawn Approach and the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, Magician.

Toronado was held up at the back of the six-runner field but when the pace quickened in the straight, he began to struggle and was eased down by Hughes, finishing the race tailed off in last place behind Declaration of War.

Hannon announced that the colt had again suffered from a displaced palate and that he would probably undergo corrective surgery before returning to the one-mile distance in autumn.

[18] On 22 October, Toronado returned for a public workout at Lingfield Park Racecourse after which Hannon Jr. announced that the colt would not run again in 2013 as "he clearly needs a bit more time".

[22] When asked about the horse's targets, Hannon said, "We'll stick to a mile with him, the Sussex Stakes is highly likely, there's also the Marois but Olympic Glory will probably run in that and then later there's the QEII".

"[24] Toronado was then sent to France and started the 6/4 favourite for the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp Racecourse against a field which included the 2000 Guineas winner Night of Thunder.

He was always among the leaders but after a prolonged struggle in the straight, he was beaten a head by the Freddy Head-trained three-year-old Charm Spirit with Night of Thunder a neck away in third.

After disputing the lead with Obviously for most of the way, he ran wide on the final turn and faded in the straight to finish eighth of the fourteen runners behind Karakontie.

Toronado serves as a shuttle stallion between his owners Al Shaqab stables in France,[25] and Swettenham Stud in Australia.