Sire on fire Night Of Thunder to cover to southern hemisphere time

Antipodean breeders are to be granted sought-after access to Darley's rising star sire Night Of Thunder this year, with a limited number of mares due to be covered to southern hemisphere time at Kildangan Stud.

The 2,000 Guineas-winning son of Dubawi has already produced 14 stakes winners worldwide, with his debut northern hemisphere three-year-old crop including seven stakes winners, such as Jersey Stakes scorer Molatham and No Limit Credit, who landed the Group 3 Karin Baronin von Ullmann Schwarzgold-Rennen.

His debut northern hemisphere crop representatives have recorded an impressive winners-to-runners ratio of 55 per cent, with his second crop of two-year-olds - which include Coventry Stakes runner-up Qaader - currently operating at a strike of 57 per cent.

Night Of Thunder previously shuttled to Darley's Northwood Park in Victoria, and his first Australian-bred juveniles have also made a notably strong start despite his crop numbering just 58 foals.

For complete coverage of racing and bloodstock in Australia and New Zealand, download ANZ Bloodstock News

From 16 runners, he has sired eight individual winners for a strike rate of 50 per cent, with two of those having struck in stakes company, making him the only first-season sire in Australia to supply more than one stakes winner.

His southern hemisphere-bred runners include Group 3 scorer A Beautiful Night and the Listed-winning River Night. He has also been represented by unbeaten Cherry Tortoni and Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude fourth Riverina Storm.

Eamon Moloney, nominations manager at Kildangan, said: "The standards that Night Of Thunder's progeny have achieved in both hemispheres to date is propelling him to an elite stallion status with global appeal.

"He has just finished covering an exceptional book of mares and is now receiving a lot of interest for a limited number of southern hemisphere nominations, which will be covered from his base in Kildangan Stud."

More news...

Entente cordiale prevails as £650,000 War Front filly tops Arqana Breeze-Up Sale

Sea The Moon keeping exclusive company among top sires by RPR ratios

Harsh reality hits breeze-up market as Night Of Thunder colt stars at 575,000gns