Night Of Thunder retires to stud

Night Of Thunder, the outstanding dual G1 winner and a son of the world’s leading stallion Dubawi, has been retired from racing and will take up stud duties in 2016.

Night Of Thunder defeated one of the best fields ever assembled for the 2,000 Guineas when outgunning Kingman and Australia last year, with subsequent Classic winners The Grey Gatsby and Kingston Hill also behind him that day.

This year, he added a scintillating victory for Godolphin in the G1 Lockinge Stakes, defeating a strong field that included the high-class pair Toormore and Arod.

John Ferguson, bloodstock advisor to Sheikh Mohammed, said: "Night Of Thunder ticks every box as a potential stallion.

"He was a horse with a marvellous attitude and temperament, and some of his work at home was exceptional. His race record speaks for itself. It was absolutely brilliant," he added.

Trained by Richard Hannon, who described him as “a truly outstanding racehorse”, Night Of Thunder was undefeated at two, when his victories included a three-length win in the Listed Doncaster Stakes.

In addition to his G1 triumphs, Night Of Thunder was placed at the highest level on three occasions, and retires with earnings of almost £900,000. Night Of Thunder is out of the Galileo mare Forest Storm, from the family of the Champion juvenile filly and Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Forest Flower.

A fee and location for Night Of Thunder will be announced at a later date.