Following his win in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, I’m Thunderstruck plundered the first prize of $4,100,000 in Saturday’s XXXX Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr and ridden by Hugh Bowman, I’m Thunderstruck finished fast to defeat the Robert and Luke Price-trained Count De Rupee by a long-head with a further one and a quarter lengths back to Vangelic (Vancouver) in third.
A 4yo gelded son of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, I’m Thunderstruck advances his record to six wins and two thirds from nine starts with earnings of $5,005,150.
“He always has to fight doesn’t he? He would have won by further if he had have had a nice run in the race, but always he’s had to fight his way out and then finish off,” Price said.
“It’s like the Toorak, the horse was there and the jockey was there for him. Very brave. You’ve just got to chase these races. He just won a $7.5 m race.”
Bowman said I.M Thunderstruck feels like a good horse.
“I’ve been riding a long time and I’ve ridden some amazing horses as we all know and the feeling that I got today is what it’s all about,” Bowman said.
“I balanced up, I was full of running and left Brock’s back (Brock Ryan - Count De Rupee) at the top of the straight because I was going so well, I didn’t want any excuses being held in.
“While I was making my way clear, Brock’s skipped away and he put about four-and-a-half lengths on us. I didn’t panic, balanced him up and when I went for him he found. At about the 200m he swapped legs and I just had to sit there while he got himself organised. Honestly, I was a passenger. He just took me to the line and I just made a point of not getting in his way and he delivered in spades.”
The OTI Racing colour-bearer is a half-brother to stakes-placed Cantstopthefeeling (Swiss Ace), out of the lightly raced Primadonna Girl (Edenwold) who hails from the family of Group II winner Reno Belle and Listed winner Disco Bob.
In one race, I’Thunderstruck has almost doubled the winnings of Rich Hill Stud’s Melbourne Cup winner Shocking who stands for a fee of $8,500.
