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Former shuttler making waves as stallion
Former shuttler Night Of Thunder’s (Dubawi) career as a stallion couldn’t have got off to a better start and it gathered even more momentum on Thursday as his son Molatham (2 c ex Cantal by Pivotal) handed him a first Royal Ascot winner in the Jersey Stakes (Gr 3, 7f).
The two-year-old colt battled on well to repel the advances of Monarch Of Egypt (American Pharoah) who ran a gallant race to go down by half a length with another three and a quarter lengths back to Symbolize (Intello) in third.
"Molatham is a lovely horse with a great temperament,” said trainer Roger Varian. “He has done nothing wrong in his career, really - he was second here in a very good maiden on his debut, and the form of his Listed win reads very well with Wichita, the 2000 Guineas second, in behind him that day.
"We have always thought the world of this horse and he has come to himself in the last few weeks. It is nice to have a good horse like this for Sheikh Hamdan, who has been a great supporter of mine since I started.
"Molatham has got a top attitude. He might not ever win by four lengths because he is not that sort of horse, but he is tough and straightforward, and obviously very talented.
"He looks like he will get a mile. He is built like a fast horse, so I don't think he will get beyond a mile, but the way he gutsed it out here on this ground over this stiff seven, it looks like he will get a mile. But he travelled and Jim [Crowley] said he almost got there too soon, so he doesn't lack speed, this guy.
"We will keep everything on the table at the moment. Molatham is obviously one of the top three-year-olds around after that performance, and at some point those nice three-year-olds will have to come together, but... I will speak with Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Hamdan's team, we will see how he comes out of this race and we will see which direction we want to go with the horse. He is a jolly nice horse to look forward to with.
"Nothing is impossible - he has just won a Jersey and this race has a rich history of producing good horses. He looked a good horse today, and we will be excited about him for the rest of the season for sure."
Purchased for 160,000gns by Shadwell at Book 2 of the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, the gelding is out of winning Pivotal (Polar Falcon) mare Cantal, making him a half-sister to dual Listed winner Perfection (Dutch Art).
Cantal herself is half-sister to Group 3 winners Evasive (Elusive Quality) and Autocratic (Dubawi), who raced as Captain Cook in Australia where he took out the MVRC JRA Cup (Gr 3, 2040m).
Molatham’s third dam is multiple Group 1 winner East Of The Moon (Private Account) - the dam of Group 3 winner Moon Driver (Mr. Prospector).
East Of The Moon, a half-sister to Kingmambo (Mr Prospector), is also the grandam of multiple Group 1 winner Alpha Centauri (Mastercraftsman), Group 2 winner Alpine Star (Sea The Moon) and Listed winner Tenth Star (Dansili).
Night Of Thunder’s Australian crop is headed by Blue Diamond Preview (f) (Gr 3, 1000m) winner A Beautiful Night.
Jockey on fire! Molatham and @JimCrowley1978 win the Jersey Stakes...#RoyalAscot @Ascot pic.twitter.com/rdwjxCK6fV
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2020
