Group winner and Classic runner-up Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) has been retired and will stand at Newsells Park Stud next year. His fee has been set at £7,000, SLF.
Bred by Elaine Chivers, the chestnut was a £92,000 purchase by Sam Sangster Bloodstock out of the Goffs UK Premier and Silver Yearling Sale in 2021. He won the G2 Superlative Stakes as a juvenile, and also added the G3 Greenham Stakes at three in the colours of Manton Thoroughbreds. Bought by Wathnan Racing, his next start was a neck second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, and he would go on to also run second in the G2 Lennox Stakes and G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein in August and September of 2023. His record stands at 9-3-3-0 and $468,560 in earnings.
Trainer Brian Meehan said, “Isaac Shelby is one of the smartest horses I've ever trained. He oozed style and class throughout his racing career. His win in the Superlative Stakes was impressive, but his performance in the Greenham was sublime. His greatest attribute was his tenacity and his will to win. I have been privileged and proud to have trained him and look forward to training his progeny in the future.”
Added Julian Dollar, general manager at Newsells Park Stud, said, “We're delighted to be standing the first son of Night Of Thunder to retire to stud. Isaac Shelby was hugely talented–even better than his sire at two, and a proper Guineas horse too. I can't wait to show him off to breeders: he's great-looking, very athletic and has a wonderful temperament. We're very grateful to the team at Wathnan and look forward to supporting him strongly.”
The third foal out of Kentucky Belle (Ire) (Heliostatic {Ire}), Isaac Shelby is one of two winners for his dam. This is the extended family of GII Mac Diarmida Handicap winner Ramazutti (Honor Grades).
Richard Brown, Wathnan's racing manager, added, “Isaac Shelby was a hugely talented horse who so nearly got Wathnan off to a dream Group 1 start when second in the French Guineas–the very first runner in the Wathnan silks. He's a fine horse by a very special young stallion and we'll be very keen to see all his offspring when they come to market.”
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