Godolphin participation ensures strong start to September Yearling Sale

A Night Of Thunder three-parts brother to Dubai World Cup winner Prince Bishop ensured the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale got off to a strong start on Tuesday as Anthony Stroud, acting on behalf of Godolphin, went to €180,000 to secure the colt, catalogued as lot 11.

Having been introduced by auctioneer Simon Kerins as "something a bit special", the likes of Alex Elliott and Thomond O'Mara traded early blows as the flashy chestnut made his way around the Fairyhouse ring.

But once the six-figure barrier was broken Stroud, standing on the top tier of the auditorium, had to see off determined plays from Kevin Ross and eventual underbidder Eamonn Reilly of BBA Ireland, who was hidden below by the indoor walking area.

Anthony Stroud: 'this colt is a good example of what the sire can get'Credit: Pat Healy/Tattersalls Ireland

"He's been bought for Godolphin," said Stroud having signed the ticket. "Obviously we stand the stallion and this colt is a good example of what the sire can get. He's a good, easy moving individual. Prince Bishop was ours as well."

The colt was offered by the Castlebridge Consignment having been bred by Thurso Limited, and is out of North East Bay, a Prospect Bay half-sister to Grade 2 winner Blingo and the Listed scorer Hold To Ransom.

"I prepped him and actually bred him myself," said the Castlebridge Consignment's Bill Dwan.

"He's a lovely horse, very easy to deal with and thankfully he vetted cleanly. I've been very impressed with the Night Of Thunders, they all seem to have great minds. We actually sold Night Of Thunder too so I know all about him. We hope this colt is as good as his three-parts brother."

Night Of Thunder, a dual Group 1-winning son of Dubawi, stood his debut season at Kildangan Stud at a fee of €30,000. The 2,000 Guineas hero transferred to Darley's Newmarket base at Dalham Hall for the 2018 breeding season, where he covered at a fee of £15,000.

The colt out of North East Bay becomes the third-most expensive offspring of Night Of Thunder, behind the €350,000 colt out of Mandheera bought by Rabbah Bloodstock at Arqana, and a 200,000gns colt out of Travel bought by Jamie Railton at last year's Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

More Tattersalls Ireland September Sale stories:

Four lots to follow on day one of the September Yearling Sale

Tattersalls Ireland's Simon Kerins with an auctioneer's perspective on the sale