3 minute read

Son of former Darley shuttler sells to Blandford Bloodstock for 575,000gns

Night Of Thunder’s (Dubawi) career as a stallion could not have got off to a better start and on Thursday he was responsible for the sale topper at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale after Tom Biggs from Blandford Bloodstock beat off stiff competition from Mark McStay and David Redvers to secure the son of former Darley shuttler for 575,000gns. 

"He will stay in Newmarket," said Biggs. "It was a little more than we had wanted to spend, but you have to pay for this sort of horse. He is a lovely horse, he did a very nice breeze and the sire is doing so well."

Catalogued as Lot 134 and offered by Brown Island Stables, the colt is out of three-time winning Tamayuz (Nayef) mare Thurayaat.

The colt’s third dam is multiple Group 1 winner Midway Lady (Alleged) - the dam of 2005 Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f) winner Eswarah (Unfuwain) - the grandam of the Raabihah (Sea The Stars).

Midway Lady also produced Group 3 winner Itnab (Green Desert) - the dam of Listed scorer Alazeyab (El Prado), meanwhile she is also the dam of Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) runner-up Umniyatee (Green Desert). 

Umniyatee herself produced Listed winner Yes Book (First American) and the dams Grade 1 winner Maltes (Red Runner) and Listed scorer Gran Lioness (Lion Heart). 

Johnny Collins of Brown Island paid £72,000 to buy the colt from his breeder Selwood Bloodstock as a yearling at the 2019 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale. 

"I had one by Night Of Thunder last year and really wanted to get another to join the team,” Collins said. “He went through very early, looked like an April 28 foal. and was only 15hh high – he is 16hh horse now!

"The time delay this spring has probably helped him, but he has always been a powerful galloper."

Night Of Thunder has sired 14 stakes winners from two crops to race and Collins effusive in his praise for the stallion, who added another string to his bow when Molatham handed him a first winner at Royal Ascot in the Jersey Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) last Thursday. 

"Who could have foreseen what he would achieve? He has got better books coming forward and he really is taking himself up into the higher brackets."

Night Of Thunder’s Australian crop is headed by Blue Diamond Preview (f) (Gr 3, 1000m) winner A Beautiful Night.