By Tom Frary
The subject of a major gamble prior to Saturday's G3 Night Of Thunder Zetland Stakes at Newmarket, Ballydoyle's Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) went through the 10-furlong test smoothly to stake his 2026 Derby claims. Delivered from the pack by Christophe Soumillon to lead passing the two pole, the 6-4 favourite was coaxed clear of stablemate Endorsement (Wootton Bassett) to score by 1 1/2 lengths, with Godolphin's €850,000 BBAG September topper Del Maro (Camelot) a further length away in third.
“He looked amazing in the paddock and went to the start so calm with so much power,” Soumillon said of the son of the Nassau winner Sultanina (New Approach) who had broken his maiden at Dundalk in August. “I was wanted to teach him and he settled really well for cover and was able to quicken well.”
“He is still very immature, but after the line he kept going which is a good sign,” he added. “He looks an amazing prospect for next year. He's well-balanced–he didn't really change leads during the race, so will improve and be a good horse next year.”
Aidan O'Brien added, “Christophe seemed very happy with him. He is a lovely big horse and still a big baby at home. He does everything very easy, is a straightforward horse and is going to improve a lot over the winter. I think at the moment he looks like a Derby trial horse for next year. Endorsement ran a lovely race too, it was very solid.”
“We'll get through the winter, but he's a big, straightforward cruiser and he can handle a tight track, having been round Dundalk,” he added. “He's nimble obviously and handles fast ground, which is lovely. We've always liked him a lot and as a very big horse he's only going to improve.”
Pedigree Notes
Pierre Bonnard's aforementioned dam Sultanina, who also captured the G3 Pinnacle Stakes over a mile and a half, is also responsible for the recent Park Hill Stakes third Crepe Suzette (Saxon Warrior). Sold for just 78,000gns at the 2022 Tattersalls December, her yearling filly by Coulsty was a €200,000 purchase by Amo Racing at last month's Goffs Orby Book 1.
The winner shares his Listed Lupe Stakes-winning second dam Soft Centre (Zafonic) with the Del Mar Oaks, Gamely and American Oaks heroine Anisette (Awtaad). The third dam is the G2 Sun Chariot Stakes runner-up Foodbroker Fancy (Halling), producer of the GIII Long Island Handicap winner Dalvina (Grand Lodge) and the Listed scorer French Dressing (Sea The Stars) who is in turn the dam of the G3 Hampton Court Stakes winner Mohaafeth (Frankel).
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
NIGHT OF THUNDER ZETLAND STAKES-G3, £65,000, Newmarket, 10-11, 2yo, 10fT, 2:04.63, g/f.
1–PIERRE BONNARD (IRE), 130, c, 2, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Sultanina (GB) (G1SW-Eng, $303,395),
by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Soft Centre (GB), by Zafonic
3rd Dam: Foodbroker Fancy (Ire), by Halling
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (€80,000 Wlg '23
GOFNOF; €280,000 Ylg '24 GOFORY). O-Mrs J Magnier/M
Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Rathasker Stud; T-Aidan
O'Brien; J-Christophe Soumillon. £36,862. Lifetime Record:
3-2-0-0, $62,550. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Endorsement (Ire), 130, c, 2, Wootton Bassett
(GB)–Embellish (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST
GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M
Tabor,Westerberg; B-Embellish Syndicate; T-Aidan O'Brien.
£13,975.
3–Del Maro (Ger), 130, c, 2, Camelot (GB)–Diamanta (Ger), by
Maxios (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
(€850,000 Ylg '24 BBAGS). O-Godolphin; B-Gestut
Brummerhof; T-Charlie Appleby. £6,994.
Margins: 1HF, 1, HF. Odds: 1.50, 2.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: Spyce (GB), Mr Colonel (Ire), Look To The Stars (Ire), Allegresse (GB), Loz Vegas (Ire).
Another race, another star-studded juvenile for @Ballydoyle and @coolmorestud …
(Camelot) is all class in the Night Of Thunder Zetland Stakes @NewmarketRace ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pic.twitter.com/5fBcRvLjua
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 11, 2025
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