Night Of Thunder's Cherry Tortoni Stay Perfect at Flemington

Mark Smith - Saturday June 20

There was no shortage of promising youngsters in Saturday’s Rod Johnson Hcp (1420m) at Flemington, yet the Night Of Thunder (IRE) gelding Cherry Tortoni saw them all off in style to keep his record at perfect two for two.

Ridden by Billy Egan for Patrick Payne,  Cherry Tortoni showed his hugely impressive career debut win at Sale was no fluke when he rounded them up in a few strides with a brilliant burst of acceleration to defeat talented Savabeel colt Albarado by one and a half lengths with the Pride Of Dubai filly Insaaf three-quarter of a length back in third.

Cherry Tortoni keeps his record perfect at Flemington (Ross Holburt/Racing Photos)

"Knowing the horse, that was pretty impressive," Payne told AAP.

"We haven't given him the full education yet so there is more to do.

"He's the type of horse that doesn't need a big break so we'll look at something in the spring but not sure what as yet.

Carrying the red with white cap silks of the Tait-Nivison families, the Olly Tait-bred Cherry Tortoni is out of the Strategic mare Tortoni (Strategic) who is a half-sister to the 13-time Group 1 winner Tie The Knot (Nassipour) who banked $6.2 million when trained by the late Guy Walter.

Cherry Tortoni Billy Egan (Ross Holburt/Racing Photos)

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).

Advertisement

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

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

Night Of Thunder (IRE) is currently the third leading first season sire list behind Pride Of Dubai and Spill The Beans.

A dual Group One-winning son of Dubawi, Night Of Thunder (IRE) was Europe’s Champion First Season sire and his 3yo son Molatham was an impressive winner on the second day at Royal Ascot.

Standing at Kildangan Stud, Ireland at a fee of 25,000 euros, Night Of Thunder (IRE) 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.

Advertisment

Race Result - Rod Johnson Hcp 1420m

Flemington Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:26.27
1
Cherry Tortoni
- 2g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Tortoni (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 60.5
2
1.5
Albarado
- 2c Savabeel (AUS) x O'Fille (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: D Oliver 60.5
3
2.3
Insaaf
- 2f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Aneeda (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M J Dee 57
4
3.0
Burleigh Boy
- 2g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Hera (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Craig Williams 59
5
3.5
South Parade
- 2c Sacred Falls (NZ) x Celebrate (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: B Melham 58.5
6
3.7
Gdansk
- 2g Dissident (AUS) x Private Show (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M J Walker 59.5
7
3.9
Maui
- 2c Ocean Park (NZ) x Splendid (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Ben Thompson 59
8
4.0
Trodaire
- 2g Akeed Mofeed (GB) x Marchelle Belle (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: Jamie Kah 59
9
4.4
Super Yulong
- 2g Excelebration (IRE) x Bo Dee (AUS) (Rock Hard Ten (USA))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: M Zahra 60.5
10
4.6
Alcyone
- 2c Teofilo (IRE) x Purple (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jye McNeil 59.5
11
5.3
Agami Karma
- 2g Ready For Victory (AUS) x Karma Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: K M Keys Rdr: C Newitt 58.5
12
5.4
Chequerboard
- 2f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Chi (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: Teodore Nugent 59
13
5.5
Johnny Get Angry
- 2g Tavistock (NZ) x Luminova (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: Lachlan King 57.5
14
5.6
Star Of Leon
- 2c Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Cafe Scientific (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: John Allen 59
More Reading...
Arrowfield Pay $2million for I Am Me
Dynamic Syndications have enjoyed the ride of a lifetime with I Am Invincible mare I Am Me and it ended with fireworks at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale when the $4.7million earning sprinter was sold to Arrowfield Stud for $2million.
$2.8million for Estriella
Tom Magnier loves his I Am Invincible mares and having earlier tonight secured Tiz Invincible for $2.8million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, he paid the same amount for her Group II winning stablemate Estriella, who is by the same sire.
Another Exciting Performer for Night Of Thunder
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.
Vinery Sell Pair of Million Dollar Mares
Vinery Stud made their mark at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale selling two fabulous mares off the track in Mumbai Muse and Makarena, who fetched $1.6million and $1.5million.
Cherry Tortoni a Class Above in Adelaide Guineas
Patrick Payne said it was likely that Cherry Tortoni would keep to distances around a mile in the spring after the high-class son of Night Of Thunder (IRE) captured Saturday’s Listed Adelaide Guineas at Morphettville.
$3.8Million Amelia’s Jewel - Next Stop Kentucky
The Inglis Chairman’s Sale concluded with one of the highlight lots of the night when Group I winning $4million earner Amelia’s Jewel sold for $3.8million to Tom Magnier.
14 Mares Sell for $1million or More - Inglis Chairmans Sale Ignites!
Bella Nipotina tonight became the equal third-most expensive mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere when realising $4.2m on a record-breaking evening at the Chairman’s Sale.
Night Of Thunder's Cherry Tortoni Stays Perfect in Taj Rossi
Exciting two-year-old Cherry Tortoni kept his record at a perfect three for three in Saturday’s Listed Taj Rossi Final (1600m) at Flemington however the son of Night Of Thunder (IRE) was made to fight for it.
Night Of Thunder's Cherry Tortoni Books his Ticket for Victoria Derby
A daring last to first move before the turn by Billy Egan paved the way for Cherry Tortoni to get back on track with a courageous win in Saturday’s Group II Moonee Valley Drummond Golf Vase (2040m), which lost a major player when Young Werther was scratched earlier in the day due to the deteriorating track.
Night Of Thunder's Cherry Tortoni Claims the Golden Mile
Few races seem beyond Cherry Tortoni at his best and this often frustrating son of Night Of Thunder (IRE) was at the top of his game in Saturday’s $200,000 Listed Bet365 Golden Mile at Bendigo.