TDN RISING STARS

May 19, 2017 - NEWBURY, Race 6, Msw, GBP £10,000, 10.0F, 16.1500

Dubai Thunder (GB), c, 3, 2014 by Dubawi (Ire)

1st Dam: Gonbarda (Ger) (MG1SW-Ger, $525,057), by Lando (Ger)
2nd Dam: Gonfalon (GB), by Slip Anchor (GB)
3rd Dam: Grimpola (Ger), by Windwurf (Ger)

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Darley (GB)
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor

Sent off the 7-2 second favourite for this maiden won 12 months ago by the subsequent Derby flop and rebounding class act Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Dubai Thunder who is a half-brother to the stable’s G1 Champion S. and G1 Lockinge S. hero Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Co-Hwt. Older Horse-Eng at 9.5-11f, Co-Hwt. European Older Horse at 9-11f, Hwt. Older Horse-Eng at 7-9.5f, Hwt. European Older Horse at 7-9f, MG1SW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $2,114,455, was sent up to race in third early. In front with 2 1/2 furlongs remaining, the bay hung fire for a stride or two but when given one smack with Adam Kirby’s whip responded by taking off and delivering a jaw-dropping 10-length success, eased down near the line. “He’s very nice. He was very babyish beforehand and a bit randy, but he’s got a serious engine,� his jockey told the Racing Post. “He liked getting his toe in, but I’m not saying he needs it soft. He’s got class.� Farhh, who benefitted from the absence of Frankel (GB) in 2013 having finished runner-up to him in the G1 Juddmonte International S. and G1 Sussex S., was a similarly slow-maturing type along with his full-brothers, the G3 Winter Hill S. scorer and G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern runner-up Racing History (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), GSW-Eng & G1SP-Ger, $244,910, and G3 Strensall S. third Basem (GB), GSP-Eng & SP-Tur, $240,543fs21f1. The dam Gonbarda collected the G1 Deutschland Preis and G1 Preis von Europa in her native Germany and is a half to the G3 Grosser Preis der Dortmunder Wirtschaft winner and G2 Mehl-Muelhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) runner-up Gonlargo (Ger) (Big Shuffle) and G3 Princess Elizabeth S. scorer Gonfilia (Ger) (Big Shuffle). The third dam Grimpola (Ger) (Windwurf {Ger}) was successful in the G2 Schwarzgold-Rennen (German 1000 Guineas) and third in the G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) before producing two black-type performers including the G3 Premio Dormello third Gryada (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}). She went on to produce Fame and Glory (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), who had the misfortune to be foaled in the same year as Sea the Stars (Ire) but who was able to make hay in that brilliant colt’s absence and win the G1 Irish Derby, G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, G1 Ascot Gold Cup and G1 Coronation Cup. Grimpola’s Goonda (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) was also responsible for a host of black-type performers beginning with “Global�, most notably the G2 Maurice Lacroix-Trophy winner Global Dream (Ger) (Seattle Dancer). Judging by the exploits of his siblings, there is every chance that Dubai Thunder will make his mark in group company, while the dam also has a yearling filly by Pivotal to come. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,373.