Another Exciting Performer for Night Of Thunder

Mark Smith - Wednesday May 27

What a shame that Darley could not find a spot on the 2020 roster for Night Of Thunder (IRE) who chalked up his 8th winner from just 12 runners when the Patrick Payne-trained Cherry Tortoni made a brilliant career debut over 1200 metres at Sale on Wednesday.

Cherry Tortoni romps on debut (Leonie Grbic/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Billy Egan, Cherry Tortoni was caught four wide from an outside barrier. Egan did find some cover behind Godolphin’s Gumnuts but that son of Street Boss (USA) was going nowhere and by the time they rounded the home turn Cherry Tortoni was standing up the leader Not A Zac four lengths.Cherry Tortoni Billy Egan (Leonie Grbic/Racing Photos)

He made that up in the space of 100 metres and was untroubled to defeat that son of El Roca by a length and a half with the Dissident filly Miss Conduct a length back in third.

Some of the great of Australian racing have carried Cherry Tortoni’s red with white cap silks of the Tait-Nivison families. Cherry Tortoni’s dam Tortoni (Strategic) is a half-sister to one of them.

He is the 13-time Group 1 winner Tie The Knot (Nassipour) who banked $6.2 million when trained by the late Guy Walter.

Also, a half-sister to the Listed winners Hood (Shamardal) and Dream Ballad (Singspiel), Tortoni is the final foal of the Group 1 VATC One Thousand Guineas heroine Whisked (Whiskey Road).

Tortoni was not up to the class of her siblings on the track winning just a maiden at Wagga from four starts.  

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The daughter of Strategic has a weanling filly by Churchill (IRE) and was covered last spring by Mendelssohn (USA).

Night Of Thunder (IRE) moves into second spot on the first season sire list behind Pride Of Dubai and his eight winners is second only to Spill The Beans (10).

A dual Group One-winning son of Dubawi, Night Of Thunder was Europe’s champion First Season sire and stands at Kildangan Stud, Ireland at a fee of 25,000 euros.

He stood one season at Darley’s Northwood Park leaving just 58 foals.

They included the Group III Blue Diamond Preview winner A Beautiful Night and the Listed Redoute's Choice takes winner River Night.

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Race Result - Ladbrokes Back Yourself Mdn 1200m

Sale Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:12.64
1
Cherry Tortoni
- 2g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Tortoni (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 58
2
1.5
Not A Zak
- 2g El Roca (AUS) x Zakelina (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: Clayton Douglas 58
3
2.5
Miss Conduct
- 2f Dissident (AUS) x She's Got Gears (AUS) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
4
3.2
Maui
- 2c Ocean Park (NZ) x Splendid (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Ben Thompson 58
5
3.3
Saltpeter
- 2g Pierro (AUS) x Flokkati (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J F Moloney Rdr: D W Stackhouse 58
6
5.6
Foxgossip
- 2g Foxwedge (AUS) x Gossamer (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: J Noonan 58
7
5.9
Region Eff
- 2g Turffontein (AUS) x Pangani (AUS) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M J Dee 58
8
6.0
Mystique Falcon
- 2f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Mystique (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Michael Poy 56
9
6.2
Gumnuts
- 2c Street Boss (USA) x Koala Bear (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Rawiller 58
10
7.9
I Am Mamwaazel
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Mamwaazel (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: L Nolen 58
11
8.1
Calaveras
- 2c Teofilo (IRE) x Calaverite (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Craig Williams 58
12
8.3
Dark Phoenix
- 2f Americain (USA) x Kooshi (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Tim Hughes Rdr: C Newitt 56
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