Night Of Thunder's Cherry Tortoni Claims the Golden Mile

Mark Smith - Saturday April 2

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.

Cherry Tortoni Storms Home in Golden Mile

Ridden by Michael Dee for trainer Patrick Payne, stormed down the outside to defeat the Zoffany gelding Hi Stranger by three-quarters of a length with the Savabeel gelding Milford a half length back in third.

It was the fourth stakes win for Cherry Tortoni, who advances his record to six wins, three seconds, and two thirds from 19 starts, with earnings of $924,925.

Advertisement

“It was a strong field, it was no pinch. He had to be at his best, but he was much better with blinkers on, and he got the right run,” Payne said.

“He’s a very genuine horse and he’s maybe tagged with a little bit of a stink next to his name, but he’s a very honest horse and he’s still only a young horse, he’s only a four-year-old.

“I was thinking there might be a race for him in Adelaide, but we’ll just wait and see. As I said, he’s only a young horse and we don’t need to rush him.”

Dee believes the gelsing is racing in career best form.

“He was massive, He’s been absolutely flying this whole prep and building very nicely for coming here today,” Dee said.

“The only concern for myself was the barrier draw, but I had full faith in Patrick and his team and the way Cherry is going at the moment.”

Cherry Tortoni is the best of three winners from as many to race 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.

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 has an unraced 2yo filly by Churchill (IRE) named Jenny Jerome. She has a yearling filly by Mendelssohn (USA) and a weanling dolt by Too Darn Hot (GB).

She was covered by Pierro last spring but missed.

Advertisment

Race Result - Bet365 Golden Mile LR 1600m

Bendigo Track: Good(4) Time: 1:35.75
1
Cherry Tortoni
- 4g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Tortoni (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: M J Dee 55
2
0.8
Hi Stranger
- 5g Zoffany (IRE) x Luxury Suite (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: S Fliedner Rdr: Damien Thornton 57
3
1.3
Milford
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Etiquette (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
4
1.4
Crosshaven
- 4g Smart Missile (AUS) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: J Mott 56.5
5
1.5
I Am Superman
- 6g Footstepsinthesand (GB) x Fastnet Lady (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: B Mc Dougall 60
6
1.6
Zayydani
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Ruqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: Beau Mertens 58
7
2.3
Lim's Cruiser
- 9g Casino Prince (AUS) x Hope Downs (AUS) (Good Journey (USA))
Tnr: Scott Brunton Rdr: Jarrod Fry 56
8
2.5
Holbien
- 7g Pierro (AUS) x Carribean Sunset (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: S J Richards Rdr: Michael Poy 54
9
2.6
Esti Feny
- 7g Pigeon Catcher (IRE) x Ejtihaad (IRE) (Nayef (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: H Coffey 54
10
2.7
Rock
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Subtitle (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: D Oliver 56.5
11
3.7
Mandela Effect
- 7g Turffontein (AUS) x Morell (AUS) (West Quest (CAN))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 55.5
12
3.8
Cape Of Good Hope
- 6h Galileo (IRE) x Hveger (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Will Price 55.5
13
4.0
Riodini
- 5g Proisir (AUS) x Giardini (NZ) (Perfectly Ready (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: C Newitt 56.5
14
4.3
Nancho
- 7g Tai Chi (GER) x Nantana (GER) (Paolini (GER))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
15
7.0
Cormorant
- 5g Kingman (GB) x Shemya (FR) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
16
27.0
Lunar Fox
- 4h Foxwedge (AUS) x Grant's Moon (USA) (Malibu Moon (USA))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: Declan Bates 54.5
More Reading...
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.
Glorious Goodwood Day 3 – Flag Start Can’t Stop Wootton Bassett
The Group I Nassau Stakes (1m2f) for fillies and mares was the highlight on the third day of Glorious Goodwood and very nearly didn’t happen at all given the ‘biblical’ rain and a flag start for the five runners that braved the treacherous conditions.
Impressive New Winner at Goodwood for St Mark’s Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had a number of high profile yearlings sold at the European sales last year and one of them was a filly from Angelic Light that made 600,000 guineas at Tattersalls October Book 2.
Night Of Thunder's Cherry Tortoni Stay Perfect at Flemington
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.
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.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 1
Here is the full list of 35 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Farnan Friday – Winning Double
Farnan sired 14 first crop winners last season to be leading first season sire by winners and his first two runners on Friday both came out and won at Kembla giving him the perfect start to a new racing year.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Larneuk Stud’s value Lonhro sire Impending only just missed a century of winners last season and was quick to keep the momentum going with a promising debut winner at Cranbourne on Friday in the Laurel Oak Bloodstock colours.
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds Welcome First foal for Ozzmosis
The next chapter for Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis has officially begun with the arrival of his first foal. A bay colt out of the stakes-placed mare Cool Change (NZ) was born last night at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, marking a significant milestone for the exciting son of Zoustar.