A rising star in the three-year-old fillies ranks in Tasmania, the Night Of Thunder (IRL) filly Hela kept her unbeaten record intact with a three and three-quarter romp in Sundays Listed Crowne Plaza Strutt Stakes (2100m).
Ridden by David Pires for trainer Scott Brunton, the last start Tasmanian Thousand Guineas winner stretched her unbeaten sequence to five under little more than a hand ride.
The well-performed Fastnet Rock filly Chequerboard was no match for the star local while another Melbourne visitor, Mystique Falcon (Pride Of Dubai) was another four lengths back in third.
A half-sister to the multiple stakes-winner Toorak Affair, Hela was purchased by her trainer for $30,000 out of the Alva Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
Hela is out of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Smooth Return who Alva Stud purchased for $12,000 at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale.
A colt by Alpine Eagle out of Smooth Return was knocked down to John Keys for $16,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale
Smooth Return foaled an Akeed Mofeed (GB) colt on December 17.
Hela becomes the 19th stakes-winner worldwide for Night Of Thunder (IRE) who left 58 live foals from his one season in Australia in 2016.
