By Tom Frary
Emulating Andrew Balding's former star Chaldean on Wednesday, Al Rabban Racing's Gewan (Night Of Thunder) came from the same Newbury novice to capture York's G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, an automatic qualifier for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Always prominent under P J McDonald throughout the seven-furlong contest, the 11-2 shot saw off Ballydoyle's Italy (Wootton Bassett) to score by 1 1/2 lengths, with 3 1/4 lengths back to the disappointing 11-20 favourite Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder) in third.
“He was very well bought by Billy Jackson-Stops, as he wasn't expensive for a Night Of Thunder,” Balding said of the €80,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up graduate. “He's done everything right since he came in and we've always liked him. PJ was quite taken by his attitude and said he had a little bit more left. I think he'll stay a mile next year, but he'll stay at seven this.”
Aidan O'Brien was far from downcast after the defeat of the yard's TDN Rising Star Italy. “He ran very well–he's a lovely big horse and he jumped a bit slow and was a length or two further back than Ryan wanted to and he had to expose him early,” he said. “He will progress. The Futurity and National were the plan.”
Gewan (Night Of Thunder) fends off Italy and remains unbeaten in the £165,000 @Tattersalls1766 Acomb Stakes! @yorkracecourse @AndrewBalding2 pic.twitter.com/6fqsdQZkAY
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 20, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Gewan's Listed-placed dam Grey Mystere (Lethal Force) is a granddaughter of the well-connected Cracovie (Caerleon), dam of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine and Stakes producer Coquerelle (Zamindar) and the G3 Prix du Lys winner Spring Master (Mastercraftsman). The fourth dam is the celebrated Luth De Saron, producer of Trampoli (Trempolino), Roi Normand (Exclusive Native) and Luth Dancer (Blushing Groom). Grey Mystere's yearling son of Ghaiyyath sadly died, while she has a colt foal by Native Trail.
Wednesday, York, Britain
TATTERSALLS ACOMB STAKES-G3, £165,000, York, 8-20, 2yo, 7fT, 1:25.57, g/f.
1–GEWAN (GB), 129, c, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Grey Mystere (GB) (SP-Fr), by Lethal Force (Ire)
2nd Dam: Creamcake, by Mr. Greeley
3rd Dam: Cracovie (GB), by Caerleon
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP STAKES WIN. (100,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT; €80,000 2yo '25 ARQBRU). O-Alrabban Racing; B-Overbury Stallions Ltd & Dukes Stud; T-Andrew Balding; J-P J McDonald. £93,572. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $134,945. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Italy (GB), 129, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Bound (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). TDN Rising Star. (200,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Smith, Magnier, Tabor, Westerberg & Brant; B-Lordship Stud; T-Aidan O'Brien. £35,475.
3–Distant Storm (GB), 129, c, 2, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Date With Destiny (Ire), by George Washington (Ire). TDN Rising Star. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (90,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT; €1,900,000 2yo '25 ARQBRU). O-Godolphin; B-Newsells Park Stud; T-Charlie Appleby. £17,754.
Margins: 1HF, 3 1/4, HF. Odds: 5.50, 2.25, 1.10.
Also Ran: Rochfortbridge (Ire), May Angel (GB), Sovereign Ocean (Ire), Goodwood Galaxy (GB). Scratched: Oceans Four (GB).
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