‘Night Of Thunder has been an absolute revelation’ - sire on fire gives Ombudsman’s breeder another major result with 700,000gns Book 2 star

Having bred the brilliant Ombudsman, Night Of Thunder has already taken James Hanly to some giddy highs. 

The Prince of Wales's Stakes and Juddmonte International hero is not the only notable talent the Ballyhimikin Stud man has produced by the sire on fire, with the Tipperary farm's roll of honour also including the likes of Bright Thunder, Estrange and Rock On Thunder. 

And the Kildangan Stud resident provided Hanly with another big result at Tattersalls on Wednesday morning when Henry Lascelles outbid Alex Elliott to secure the filly out of Princesse De Saba at 700,000gns. 

The youngster, who was bred in partnership with leading agent Anthony Stroud and owner-breeder Trevor Stewart, provided the team with a handsome return on the €87,000 they invested in the Group 3-placed dam during the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in 2021.

• ‘We nearly threw the telly out of the window!’ – Group 1 glory not the only cause for celebration for Ombudsman’s savvy breeder 

“Night Of Thunder has been an absolute revelation, he’s been fantastic for us and we’ve been so lucky to be involved with him,” said Hanly’s son, Jack. “We’ve been on the bandwagon for a long time now; I don’t think we sent him a mare in his first season but every year after that we have. That’s really down to Anthony Stroud, he knew from the start how good he was and he strongly recommended we get behind the horse. He’s the reason we’ve supported him so much.” 

He added: “This filly had a lot of vets, there was a lot of chat about her and a lot of interest. She was an absolute queen down at the box, she was foot perfect here in the ring. We were expecting a good result but this is huge.”

James Hanly: breeder of OmbudsmanCredit: ©Tattersalls

Princesse De Saba has netted connections 970,000gns in Tattersalls yearling receipts after her first foal, a son of Mehmas, sold to John Foote for 270,000gns 12 months ago. She also has a Havana Grey colt foal and was among Blue Point’s latest book. 

“The mare has done us proud,” said Jack. “The half-brother we sold last year was a really good first foal and he’s gone down to Australia. She’s a nice, attractive mare and I think you have to buy them on the physical as well as the pedigree, and hopefully they’ll pass that onto their stock. We loved her from the very beginning.” 

The transaction continued a productive October Yearling Sale for Ballyhimikin, who sold seven Book 1 yearlings for a combined 3.605 million guineas and an average price of 515,000gns. 

“We’ve had a great crop of yearlings this year and people seem to like them, so hopefully they’ll carry on and do well on the track now,” said Jack. “That’s the most important thing.” 

Asked whether the family would be heading to Ascot on Saturday to cheer on Ombudsman as he lines up against old adversary Delacroix in a mouthwatering Qipco Champion Stakes, Jack said: “We can’t miss it. It’s the race of the year. It’ll be some shootout.”

• WATCH: Ombudsman works on the Newmarket Gallops ahead of Champions Day 

Henry Lascelles: "I actually worked for Ballyhimikin a few years ago when the yearling draft included Ombudsman"Credit: Laura Green

Lascelles was unable to reveal the identity of his client, but explained he had first-hand experience of Ballyhimikin’s methods, saying: “We loved the filly. She looks like she is going to be a two-year-old, she’s out of a fast dam who was Group placed at two. 

“I actually worked for Ballyhimikin a few years ago when the yearling draft included Ombudsman, Estrange, Bright Diamond – they’ve had a brilliant year on the track. We’re delighted to get her and hopefully she’s as good as some of the farm’s other graduates.”

Read more from Tattersalls: 

‘It was a whole bag of emotions!’ - first-time pinhookers Harry and Oliver Vigors land ‘magical’ touch as Perfect Power colt rockets to 260,000gns

‘When a nice horse goes in there anything can happen’ - powerhouse bidders clash as Starspangledbanner filly from a hot pedigree brings 900,000gns  

‘I didn’t expect it at all! - teenager pinhookers in clover as Minzaal filly delivers massive profit at 450,000gns

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