Night of Thunder goes into the St
James’s Palace Stakes next looking to build on his victory in the
2000 Guineas where he had two future Classic winners in behind him in
the form of Kingman and Australia.
Richard Hannon’s colt has not been
seen since his success at Newmarket where he was the surprise 40/1
winner with Betfair for the opening Classic of the year. Despite
drifting to the left of the course in the closing stages of the
Guineas, he was able to get up by half a length under jockey Kieren
Fallon.
Australia boosted the form of Night of
Thunder when he won the Derby at Epsom at the weekend to the delight
of Betfair backers.
The John Gosden trained Kingman was the
horse who finished directly behind Night of Thunder on that mile
contest and will get his opportunity to put the record straight in
their rematch in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
It did not take Gosden’s runner long
to make up for his 2000 Guineas defeat as he won the Irish equivalent
at the Curragh a few of weeks later. On that occasion he went off as
a warm favourite with Betfair at 4/5 in the betting. The soft to
heavy ground did not prove to be a problem for the British horse as
he scored by five lengths.
Ryan Moore has
been confirmed as the jockey who will board Toormore. He opened up
with a victory
in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket when bearing The Grey Gatsby in
the Group Three contest.
Toormore also lined up in the 2000
Guineas where he was disappointing in seventh place. That was the
first defeat of the colt’s career after going through his two-year
old campaign unbeaten. He is currently third best in
the market for next week’s race.