Night of Thunder Closes Out Final Day in Doncaster

Maybe they haven't seen the headlines about an energy crisis, soaring inflation, or an onrushing recession, or perhaps they have and are simply in need of some respite from the doom and gloom.

But whatever the reasoning, buyers showed remarkable resilience in the face of significant external pressures as they returned to Doncaster Aug. 24 and ensured that Day Two of the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale was every bit as lively as the first.

An unmistakably positive vibe on the sales ground was reflected across the key market indices, not least the aggregate, which rose by 20% year on year to £15,987,500 (US$18,855,178). The average went up by 8% to £44,043 ($51,943), while the median showed a 9% increase to £35,000 ($41,278). 

There were 23 six-figure lots across the two sessions, while seven yearlings sold for £200,000 ($235,874) or more. There was also a rock-solid clearance rate of 89% as 363 sold from 406 offered. 

Topping the pile on Wednesday was the Night of Thunder  filly (Lot 278) out of Thiswaycadeaux from Tally-Ho Stud who brought £240,000 ($283,049) after a six-figure tug of war between Richard Knight and Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock. Knight put up a valiant effort but it was Boman, standing outside Blandford's ringside office, who proved more determined.

"She's for an existing client who particularly likes Night of Thunder," Boman said. "She's an outstanding filly, very muscular and forward, and she behaved impeccably each time I saw her over the last three or four days. It's a family I've got a strong connection with as I bought Red Tea, who's under the second dam, and she's a very good mare for Joseph O'Brien."

Kilboy Estate Stakes (G2) scorer Red Tea  cost just 42,000gns ($56,571) at the 2018 Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale but her group 2-winning exploits, allied to Thiswaycadeaux's own listed placing, helped the Night of Thunder filly bring considerably more.

"The family just exploded as there was no black type under the first two dams but Red Tea won her group 2 and then this filly's dam was stakes-placed afterwards too," continued Boman. "Night of Thunder is doing a fantastic job; he seems to have a new stakes winner every week, so I'm delighted to have her.

"The client I buy for always buys fillies as he sees the residual value, but he enjoys his racing, too, and I hope she's very lucky for him because he deserves to have some success."

When Boman was asked who was likely to train the filly, or which country she would race in, the agent replied: "Undecided and undetermined!"

Boman went on to reflect on the sale-topping price as well as the wider market conditions by saying: "It was a little bit over where I thought she'd be but you've got to meet the market. You either get on with it and buy the horse you want to buy or you sit on the sidelines.

"I was surprised at how strong it's been but it seems to be a recession-proof market. Everything you read in the media is that we're in tough times but this market doesn't seem to show any signs of that. It's resilient and long may it last."

Night of Thunder had two lots cataloged in this year's Premier Sale and both topped their respective sessions after Day One saw Avenue Bloodstock go to £230,000 ($271,255) for the colt (Lot 170) out of Pious Alexander from Mountarmstrong Stud.

Darley's Kildangan Stud resident stood the latest breeding season at €75,000, while his yearlings were conceived at a generous looking fee of €25,000.