Night of Thunder (Ire)

Thriving for a searching pace made by the Ballydoyle runners, Godolphin's Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) leapt to the fore to win Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes. Anchored behind by William Buick early, the John and Thady Gosden-trained 7-1 shot powered past labouring rivals and beyond the reigning Champion Stakes title-holder Anmaat (Awtaad) to score by two lengths in a show of finishing power. There was a 2 1/2-length margin back to See The Fire (Sea The Stars) in third, with the 13-8 favourite Los Angeles (Camelot) looking to have...

Juddmonte's Sunly had looked one to follow when going two-for-two in the Listed Prix de la Seine and stayed on the rise with a smooth win in the G3 Prix de Royaumont at Chantilly on Sunday. Always travelling easily for Christophe Soumillon, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained daughter of Night Of Thunder took control a furlong from home en route to a 2 1/2-length success from Cloth Of Stars's Indalimos. In doing so, the 9-10 favourite was completing a family Group 3 weekend double following the exploits of the sire's equally-exciting Estrange...

Last seen winning Doncaster's Listed Gillies Fillies' Stakes in November, Cheveley Park Stud's Estrange was back with a bang in Saturday's G3 Lester Piggott Fillies' Stakes at Haydock. Confidently ridden by Danny Tudhope anchored in rear early, the 13-8 second favourite loomed on the outer approaching two out as if she had just joined in. Sent on soon after, the David O'Meara-trained daughter of Night Of Thunder responded with relish to record an emphatic 4 1/4-length success from the 11-8 market-leader Shaha. Estrange has been entered in the Arc, which...

York's Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies' Stakes looked a strong contest full of exciting fillies on Friday and it was Peter Harris's unbeaten Kon Tiki who came through. Coming off all-weather wins at Wolverhampton and Kempton, the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained daughter of Night Of Thunder swept by some smart peers approaching the final furlong and had half a length to spare over Bermuda Longtail at the line. Connections of the 11-2 winner are looking to avoid Royal Ascot this year. "She's trained well all winter--I had her in the Guineas, but...

Nothing like coming 10-wide on your return to the races, but if you're going to make a comeback, why not do it big? Dynamic Pricing (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) kicked off her 2025 campaign by overcoming drama she likely won't see again, and took home the trophy for the GIII Beaugay Stakes to boot. Given a freshening after back-to-back third-place efforts in the Listed Winter Memories Sept. 13 and GII Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 17, she had not been to the winner's enclosure since her victory this...

Juddmonte homebred Sunly (Night Of Thunder) delivered a dominant performance in Sunday's Listed Prix de la Seine, a traditional launching pad for next month's G1 Prix de Diane, at ParisLongchamp. The May-foaled chestnut notched a three-length debut tally at the same venue last month and remained unbeaten with a 2 1/2-length triumph in this return. However, she is not engaged in the Diane but retains an entry in the Chantilly's G3 Prix de Royaumont. The eventual winner, sent postward at odds of 12-5, settled into a comfortable rhythm racing in...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a Mehmas (Ire) half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire). 1.10 Ascot, Cond, £20,000, 2yo, 5fT WISE APPROACH (IRE) (Mehmas {Ire}) is an intriguing newcomer in this well-contested Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes, being Godolphin's 1million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase...

Bobby Flay's Go Go Boots (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), a June 6 G1 Betfred Oaks entry, justified long odds-on favouritism for John and Thady Gosden with a three-length triumph in Monday's Download The Raceday Ready App Fillies' Novice Stakes over 10 furlongs at Lingfield. Last year's €230,000 Arqana Breeze-Up graduate had previously won at the track having annexed her debut over one mile in December.   Go Go Boots remains unbeaten with a straightforward success at @LingfieldPark! This Epsom Oaks-entrant looks a filly to follow for John and Thady...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a bevy of bluebloods at Leicester. 2.35 Leicester, Mdn, £8,000, 3yo/up, 10fT SKIMMER (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is one of a pair of Juddmonte newcomers in this line-up, with Harry Charlton in charge of the half-brother to the G1 St Leger hero Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Joining...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Choisya in the GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland. Queen Of Keeneland Rabbah Bloodstock homebred Choisya (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), a winner of the G2 Cape Verdi and G2 Balanchine at Meydan this winter, took her show on the road and ran out a half-length winner of the GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland on April 12 (video). She is trained by Simon...

Tragedy struck Charlie Appleby and the Godolphin team in Dubai last week when their Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lost his life in his quest for a second consecutive triumph in the G1 Jebel Hatta. A seven-time winner all told, with his other wins including last year's GI Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga, he was a terrific servant to connections and another star name for whom it all began on the all-weather. In fact, it will be exactly two years ago on Saturday that he ran out an emphatic debut winner...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Cat Eyes in Florida.   The Florida Place To Be JDT Racing's Cat Eyes (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) put an eighth-place debut run at Tampa firmly in the rear view with a victory for Brendan Walsh at Gulfstream on Jan. 5 (video). Bred by Bill Crager, the dark bay daughter of Bodak (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was a €65,000 purchase by JRSA from the...