Flying freshman sire Night Of Thunder in return to Kildangan Stud

Breakthrough freshman sire Night Of Thunder is to return to Kildangan Stud in County Kildare next year, the Darley colour bearer having spent the past two seasons at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.

Night of Thunder has compiled some excellent statistics with his debut two-year-olds, most notably by delivering 25 winners from 38 runners for a strike-rate of 66 per cent.

Night Of Thunder going down a storm: Martin Stevens on the fine first impression made by the sire

The son of Dubawi has been represented by three stakes winners – Under The Stars, Molatham and Thunderous – as well as three other black-type performers in Lady Penelope, Sun Power and Thunderspeed.

Racing Post statistics show that in 2019 only Frankel, Dubawi and Scat Daddy have recorded a higher percentage of runners with a Racing Post Rating of 80 or higher in Britain and Ireland, with Night Of Thunder operating at a clip of 55 per cent.

Irish breeders might have felt they deserved to have Night Of Thunder back close at hand, as the stallion's highflying first crop was conceived at Kildangan Stud.

Darley's director of stallions Sam Bullard told the Irish Field: “The outstanding success that Night Of Thunder has achieved with his first crop is testament to the support he received from Irish breeders during his first season.

“We're confident that his return to Kildangan Stud will ensure we are able to secure him a very good quality book of mares for 2020.”

Night Of Thunder is due for a fee increase, having been pitched at £15,000 in the past two breeding seasons. He was advertised at €30,000 in his introductory year.

Darley's stallion roster for next year is already starting to take shape, with Blue Point confirmed for Kildangan and Masar and Too Darn Hot bound for Dalham Hall Stud.

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