Night Of Thunder Ready To Roll In Lockinge

Time/Date - 15.45hrs local time/Saturday, May 16, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Newbury/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m

Classic-winning miler Night Of Thunder makes his Godolphin debut in the Group One Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes over the straight mile at Newbury, UK, on Saturday, May 16.

The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old ran on strongly to take the Group One QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May last year, in which he beat the world's top-rated three-year-olds of 2014 - Kingman, Australia and The Grey Gatsby.

Night Of Thunder subsequently made four more appearances, all at Group One level, last season and was runner-up to Kingman over a mile in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June before fading to eighth over 10 furlongs in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park the following month.

He returned to a mile for his final two starts of 2014, coming home a close third to Charm Spirit in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp at Longchamp, France, in September and finished second to the same horse in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Sponsored by QIPCO at Ascot the next month.

James Doyle rides the Dubawi colt for the first time.

Richard Hannon commented: "We decided against giving Night Of Thunder a racecourse gallop - we worked him at home and he really impressed us.

"He should be fit enough to win, although he will improve for the run and we hope that he will keep improving through the season.

"He's a Classic winner he deserves the utmost respect for that and he would be right up there with all the star milers that we have had over recent years."

Night Of Thunder, drawn three, takes on 17 rivals including dual Group One heroine Integral, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Sponsored By QIPCO third Toormore, recent Sandown Park Group Two winner Custom Cut and Ascot Listed scorer Moohaarib.

Cape Cross (1998), Fly to the Stars (1999), Aljabr (2000), Creachadoir (2008) and Farhh (2013) have won the Lockinge Stakes for Godolphin.