Night of Thunder (Ire)

Newmarket's Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes has a rich history and Friday's renewal had the right feel to it as Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder) emerged to become the race's fourth straight TDN Rising Star. Whether Godolphin's €1.9million Arqana May Breeze-Up topper will be more Field Of Gold than Epictetus and Arabic Legend remains to be seen, but there was much to like about the way her battled by Ballydoyle's Constitution River (Wootton Bassett) with the pair clear. "He's been straightforward since he's arrived and full credit to the people...

Cheveley Park Stud's Estrange (Night Of Thunder) remained on course for bigger targets down the line and justified short-priced favouritism with a hard-fought victory in a tactical renewal of Saturday's G2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock. "Danny [Tudhope] said she normally falls asleep, but today she didn't quite drop the bit and ended up in front a long time," explained trainer David O'Meara. "That's not how we'd like to play her, but it was a means to an end. She has a very good action and wasn't as relaxed as...

When it comes to Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse, there has been a shift of power to the Classic generation in recent times with seven of the last ten going their way. Saturday's renewal will either see a fifth consecutive success for the 3-year-olds or a break in the sequence and the onus is on Ombudsman to reestablish the reputation of the older horses. Godolphin's son of Night Of Thunder is the key protagonist on his emphatic Prince of Wales's Stakes success last month and to date has no blemish on his...

Godolphin's G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes hero Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) will face five opponents after a select half-dozen were confirmed for Saturday's £1-million G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. The John and Thady Gosden trainee, who has drawn stall five, encounters fellow four-year-old Sosie (Sea The Stars), who will bid for a fourth success at the highest level for the Andre Fabre stable from the neighbouring stall four. The Classic generation enjoys strong representation and features G1 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court (Justify) and G1 Prix du Jockey Club victor Camille...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Hankelow (Night Of Thunder), a 210,000gns Tattersalls December foal turned 750,000gns Book 1 yearling, created a favourable impression with a taking debut success in Saturday's Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Novice Stakes over seven furlongs at York. Accepting a tow in third after breaking on the lead, the 3-1 second favourite was shaken up to challenge soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven out in the closing stages to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths from Crest Of Fire (Phoenix Of Spain). Hankelow is the...

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...