Newbury, England // Pressure released. Godolphin secured their first Group 1 of the European season when Night Of Thunder stretched out to hold off the closing pack headed by stablemate Toormore in the Lockinge Stakes yesterday.
Night Of Thunder was tiring badly in the final 200 metres, but with the assistance of the far side running rail, last year’s English 2,000 Guineas winner handed Godolphin their sixth win in the 1,600m contest from just 18 runners the stable has had in the race.
The chestnut colt looked the pick of the paddock beforehand and trainer Richard Hannon clearly had got his charge as fit as he could for his first run for 210 days. Night Of Thunder was having his maiden outing in the royal blue silks, having been absorbed in to the international stable from owner Saeed Manana.
It was a fourth win for the Hannon stable in the race in just six years, but despite a rich track record of success the trainer admitted that the nerves had begun to jangle in the preceding few days.
Night Of Thunder was a first Godolphin winner for Hannon.
“There was a little bit of pressure,” Hannon said. “I wouldn’t have said beforehand. Getting Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed involved is the ultimate compliment for me. It is great to have them on board.”
This victory underlined that Godolphin’s recent tactic of keeping acquired horses with the trainers they started out their careers with is a logical one that can yield further success.
Although it is clearly early in the European turf season, Godolphin hit the crossbar in the English Guineas this month when Territories was second for trainer Andre Fabre to Coolmore’s Gleneagles at Newmarket. The following day it was Lucida’s turn to go down to Coolmore’s Legatissimo for trainer Jim Bolger.
Those were missed opportunities in classic races, but Night Of Thunder could well keep the momentum going in to next month.
The four year old will head to Royal Ascot, where he is set to lock horns with Solow, the Dubai Turf winner, and Able Friend, Hong Kong’s highest-rated horse, in a mouth-watering Queen Anne Stakes.
Night Of Thunder defeated 15 rivals yesterday, including Group 1 winners Toormore and Integral, who lost out third to Arod.
As is Hannon’s modus operandi, Night Of Thunder is sure to improve as the season continues and winning jockey James Doyle is looking forward to riding him at the Royal meeting.
“It was the first time I had ridden him in a race, so I’m getting to know him,” he said.
“This is what you come into the game for, these big wins. This is what I want, this is what John Ferguson wants and this is what Sheikh Mohammed wants.
“There is pressure on days like this but when it all comes together there is a lot of relief.”
Joining Night Of Thunder at Royal Ascot will be Telescope, who beat Qatari star Dubday in the Listed Al Rayyan Stakes on the undercard.
Telescope will head to the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, in which he posted a seven-length success last year.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid also could be represented at the Royal meeting after Adday formed the cornerstone of a five-timer for jockey Ryan Moore in the Carnarvon Stakes over 1,200m. The race is a feeder for the inaugural Group 1 Commonwealth Cup.
Dubai World Cup night form gets a searching examination today when sprinters Rich Tapestry, Lucky Nine and Hototo take their chance in the Group 1 International Sprint at Kranji in Singapore having run at Meydan in March.
The feature Group 1 International Cup has attracted 11 runners, including Cooptado, who has transferred from Doug Watson’s yard to that of Patrick Shaw.
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