The Australian-bred Hela, a daughter of Night Of Thunder, added a first stakes victory when taking the Listed Strutt Stakes at Hobart on Sunday, 7 February. Unbeaten in four previous starts, the three-year-old filly put the race to bed by the final turn, cruising three lengths clear of her nearest rival and maintaining her lead in the final 200m to win convincingly.
Bred by Alva Stud, Hela is a half-sister to the G3 Hobart Cup winner Toorak Affair out of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Smooth Return. She is out of a winning half-sister to the multiple G3 performer Silky Sweep and to the dam of G2 Sandford Stakes victor and G1 performer Chapel Royal.
Hela becomes the 19th individual Stakes winner for her sensational sire Night Of Thunder who has made an incredible start to his career at stud. Winners from his first European crop include the G2-winning trio Auyantepui, Night Colours and Thunderous alongside further performers including the G1 sprinter Keep Busy and G3 Jersey winner Molatham.
Night Of Thunder will stand the 2021 season at Kildangan Stud at a fee of €75,000, Oct 1, SLF.
