Night of Thunder

A daughter's wedding day ought to be one of the proudest moments of a father's life, and for James Hanly, the Greek wedding of his daughter Rosanna last year was indeed such an occasion, even if it meant that he missed what may then have felt like the pinnacle of his achievements as a breeder. But sometimes the racing gods are a friendly bunch and, twelve months on, they convened to grant Hanly a second chance, much to the relief of Rosanna. Watching on as Ombudsman was led back in...

They walked around the paddock one behind the other, like a little brother following his big brother around. The swaggering Gstaad led the more demure Bow Echo, looking as though at least a year separated them in age.  But when the time came to tussle there was no brotherly love lost as the pair fought with each stride to the line, delivering the battle royal we had hoped to see but perhaps had not dared to dream would happen. Whichever way the photo went, a Guineas winner would be crowned...

4.40 Newbury, Novice, 3yo, f, 9fT MANAAR (IRE) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}) is an intriguing debutante for Shadwell and William Haggas, being a half-sister to the stable's four-times Group 1 winner Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai). A 370,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase, she faces a clutch of bluebloods including the Thoroughbred Racing Corporation's Leicester winner Miss Scott (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), a John and Thady Gosden-trained half-sister to the smart fillies Grand Stars (Sea The Stars) and Catalina Delcarpio (Lope De Vega) who was a 650,000gns purchase also...

"His work has undoubtedly got stronger" is undoubtedly a statement that rival trainers would not wish to hear from George Boughey when it comes to Bow Echo. The Irish and French champion trainers Aidan O'Brien and Francis Graffard won't be running scared as such, but despite the fact they will be bringing their own Guineas winners Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) and Rayif (Sea The Moon) to Royal Ascot, Boughey's scintillating son of Night Of Thunder is plainly the one to beat in the clash of the Classic colts. The unbeaten Bow Echo...

There can be few crueller blows than Classic dreams being dashed after a winter fuelled by expectation and excitement.  This was sadly the case for all those connected with last year's champion two-year-old Gewan (Night Of Thunder), who suffered a fatal injury in April while being prepared for the 2,000 Guineas. Trained by Andrew Balding for Forz Europe, the colt would have been an obvious prospect for that same owner's fledgling stallion operation at Ace Stud. Gewan's breeders, Charlie Wyatt of Dukes Stud and Simon Sweeting of Overbury Stud, were...

Where to begin? Perhaps to say that, though this sport faces myriad challenges, the mere thrill of actually going racing is the perfect antidote to such pernicious worries.  And it wasn't just the blazing sunshine and searing performance of Bow Echo on the Rowley Mile that has renewed the faith. A week earlier a trip to Ripon - justifiably dubbed 'The Garden Racecourse' - on a similarly sunny Saturday bit for a more ordinary race day provided no less enjoyable an experience.  It is easy to become despondent with what...

NEWMARKET, UK -- Rain has been in short supply in Newmarket for weeks but if the weather can be seen as a metaphor for George Boughey's mood then the spotless blue sky of Monday morning was a pretty good one.  And why shouldn't this 34-year-old be upbeat? After all, his training career, which got underway in 2019, has been on nothing but an upward trajectory over the past seven years. This bright morning, his Craven House Stables contains the favourite for Saturday's Betfred 2,000 Guineas, and it is a yard...

   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 Sandtrap at Aqueduct. Lope De Vega Fillies Capture Aqueduct Affairs Named a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard in her Salisbury debut for Ralph Beckett in September of 2024, Sandtrap (Lope De Vega) made her American bow a winning one at Aqueduct on April 18 (video). Trained by Chad Brown, the daughter of Zindaya (More Than Ready) races for Bridlewood Farm. Bred by...

2.50 Doncaster, Nov, 3yo/up, 7f 6yT Roger Varian trainee MOREEDD (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is out of G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Flower Bowl Invitational victrix Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk) and thus kin to G1 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and multiple Group 1-winning sire Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned newcomer is opposed by five on debut.   1.57 Saint-Cloud, Mdn, 3yo, c/g, 12fT LNJ Foxwoods' DEFINING (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a full-brother to G1 Futurity Trophy hero Ancient Wisdom (Fr), comes back off...

A total of 15 wildcards have been added to the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale catalogue. The sale is set for Friday, May 22 at 10 a.m. The breezes take place the day prior. During last year's sale, a son of Night Of Thunder topped proceedings at €580,000, and this year, a filly out of an Invincible Spriit sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Queen's Jewel (Pivotal) has been added to the catalogue. Other late additions include a Havana Grey filly, herself a half-sister to the stakes-placed Jaliyah (Mehmas) and out...

3.42 Newbury, Novice, 3yo, 10fT SHABAB AL AHLI (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is front and centre in Charlie Appleby's Derby plans at present, having won by 8 1/2 lengths on debut at Southwell in December and he has the chance to enhance his reputation in this important staging post used in the past by the Classic winners Hurricane Lane, Enable, Star Of Seville and Light Shift. Out of the Group 3 winner Koora (Pivotal), who has already produced two winners at that level in Klondike (Galileo) and Kemari (Dubawi), he encounters...

Champion two-year-old Gewan (Night Of Thunder), winner of last year's G1 Dewhurst Stakes and a leading contender for next month's 2,000 Guineas, has been fatally injured in a racecourse gallop at Kempton on Thursday morning. The colt, trained by Andrew Balding for Harrison Li's  Forz Europe Ltd, won three of his four starts last year, including the G3 Acomb Stakes at York. A post on social media from Balding's Park House Stables confirmed the news. It read, "It is with extreme sadness that we report that Gewan, champion two-year-old of...