By Bren O'Brien
One-time Darley shuttler Night Of Thunder (Ire) continues to make an impression on the First Season Sires Table with his sixth winner from his only Australian crop at Bendigo on Sunday.
The Matt Cumani-trained Coup De Tonnerre became his latest winner, showing an excellent turn of foot to power away and claim the Two-Years-Old Maiden Plate over 1400 metres by 2.75l.
He defeated the well-related Mike Moroney-trained colt Tour Of Duty (Hinchinbrook), who closed off well on debut, and the Rod Symons-trained debutant Luna Chara (Skilled).
The homebred colt was having his fifth start, having been beaten by stablemate Khoekhoe (Turffontein) in an Echuca maiden two starts ago and then finishing ninth behind that horse in the VOBIS Gold Showdown at Caulfield last month.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to see him win because we have always thought a bit of this horse, he’s had a bit of bad luck and things have not gone his way but we always hoped when we got up a bit in distance and with a bit of time he would put things together," Cumani said.
“The problem with him is that he has quite a big stride and when he gets behind them he can look a bit flat-footed when asked to accelerate.
"We always hoped when we got up a bit in distance and with a bit of time he would put things together." - Matt Cumani
“I’m still hopeful that over a bit more distance as a 3-year-old he can improve again.”
Trainer Matt Cumani
His pedigree indicates that Coup De Tonnerre will indeed appreciate stepping up in distance. He is the second winner from Sea Terrace (Authorized {Ire}), the half-sister to stayer and Listed winner Charlevoix (New Approach {Ire}) as well as the stakes-placed Creedance (Helmet).
His third dam, Beachside (NZ) (Crested Wave {USA}) won a G2 Wakeful S. and a Newcastle Gold Cup and was placed in a G1 Metropolitan H. She produced G1 ARC Railway H. winner Cannsea (Canny Lad) and was a half-sister to G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Procol Harum (NZ) (Western Symphony {USA}).
Coup De Tonnerre's half-brother by Manhattan Rain is catalogued as Lot 156 at the Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale on July 12, where he will be offered by Blue Gum Farm.
The Cumani-trained colt becomes the sixth winner for Night Of Thunder, who joins Pride Of Dubai in second on the list of first-season sires by winners, and two behind Spill The Beans. Pride Of Dubai leads on prizemoney while Night Of Thunder is the only first-season sire with multiple stakes winners.
Night Of Thunder (Ire) | Standing at Darley Kildangan Stud, Co Kildare
The other first-season sire to secure a winner on Sunday was Newgate's Super One, who marked winner number four with Bedazzle's victory at Dubbo.
The Tracey Bartley-trained Bedazzle edged out Undeniable (Not A Single Doubt) in the Silver Goblet Preview over 1100 metres to break her maiden at her second start.
Bedazzle was a $20,000 buy for Bartley from the 2019 Inglis Classic Sale.
