New announcement. Learn more

Sunline ScholarshipScholarshipNew Zealand BloodstockBreeders' BulletinCambridge StudRich HillCovid-19BreedingIrish National StudWaikato StudHaunui FarmPearl SeriesBelardoCheveley Park StudGavelhouse PlusBreeders BulletinBrighthill FarmCoolmoreWindsor Park StudBruce SladeLittle Avondale StudRITATaylor MadeTrelawney StudBruce's BlogBulletinMapperley StudMatt's BlogMatthew ScownNovara ParkWeanling SaleAlmanzorIffraajJamie RichardsMatt ScownNational Breeding AwardsOcean ParkRobert DennisSatono AladdinThe Oaks StudBevan SmithDavid Morris BlogFirst Crop Sire FocusHighden ParkHolly RossHolly's BlogNZTRSavabeelTavistockTime TestValachi DownsWellfield LodgeWentwood GrangeWestbury StudWhite Robe Lodge2020 New SiresBevan's BlogCurraghmoreEminentJamie's BlogKeith and Faith Taylor Equine ScholarshipKiwi BredLance Forbes BlogMelody BelleNathan TrumperNZB Pearl SeriesPer IncantoRaise The FlagRobert's BlogBenji KingBenji's BlogCameron Ring BlogContributerDanielle Southey BlogGavelhouseGordon CunninghamGrangewilliam StudHannah AireyHannah MeeHello YoumzainNZB South Island SaleSouth Island SaleSweynesseWelfareCharm SpiritDylan TreweekDylan's BlogEmbellishHannah's BlogInglewood StudKoldingLaura McNabMarie LeicesterNewmarketNZB InsuranceReliable ManRibchesterSam BergersonVadamosVespaWroteWyndspelleAce HighAide MemoireBagalolliesBeyond the BarriersBreeding AwardsCameron RingChris LuoniCoronavirusDalgharDarci BrahmaDavid ArcherDon GoodwinEtah JamesHall of FameJon SnowLance ForbesMilan ParkNZ Racing Hall of FameOcean EmperorPolly GreyPrefermentRacingRichard WrightRoad to RockSacred FallsShamexpressShockingShowcasingSir Patrick HoganStaphanosSuper SethTivaciTurn Me LooseVanbrughWaikato Stallion WeekendWeigh InYearling SalesZedAlamosaAlice JeffriesAlice WilkinsonAncient SpiritAtlanteAuckland Breeder AwardsAvantageBeauty GenerationBLOODSTOCK TAXATIONBradbury ParkBreeder of The YearCallsign MavCatalystCEO BlogChief Executive's BlogChristopher GraceClyde BuckinghamCoolmore IrelandDean McKenzieDennis BrothersDorian KosDunstan Breeder of the MonthEducationExplosive BreedingFalkirkFasttrack Breeders ProfileFoster FoalFrankelGerry HarveyGingernutsHealthy RiversHighviewIgraineJakkalberryJennifer EcclesJoan EganJohnny Get AngryJomara BloodstockKaraka 2021Karaka MillionLion's RoarLisa LattaLloyd MonehanMare ReturnsMark ChittyMark LuptonMembershipMorgan WilksNearco StudNick KingNZTBA Waikato BranchOcean BillyOceanexOff The Track ThoroughbredsPattern CommitteePear Tree FarmPinsRacing Industry BillRangitikei Gold CupReady To Run SaleRoaring LionRock 'n' PopRyan StaceyShannon TaylorSneaking To WinStallion paradeStallion parade 2019Surprise BabyTarzinoTe AkauTe Aroha Breeders DayTen SovereignsThe Chosen OneTheileria equiTofaneToffee TongueTony PikeTony RiderUnusual SuspectVerry ElleegantWaikato BranchWar DecreeWarren PeggWarwick JeffriesWeanling WalkWillie and Karen CalderWinston PetersYearn2015/16 Handicaps2017 Waikato Stallion Parade2020 Service fees2020-21 Broodmare of the Year2021 New Season Sire Preview2021 NZB Weanling Sale30 Day Foal NotificationAblazeACC ForumACC LEVIESAdvantageAegonAerovelocityAl Basti EquiworldAlan GrovesAlan WindleAllan SharrockAllureAlphastarAmazing StarAndrew FowlerAndrew SeabrookAndrew StewartAnnabel WigleyAnne-Marie KingAnother DollarArdsley StudArrivederciArthur AvisAternatinAuckland Stallion ParadeAuckland Stallion Parade 2017Auret FamilyAvonalloAzamourBaggy GreenBansha House StablesBarbara PerryBattle of the BreedsBeaufort DownsBelle familyBen KwokBerkley StudBernard SaundryBessBig MikeBill GleesonBlandford LodgeBohemian BluesBonnevalBonniegirlBonny LassBostonianBoticaBRANCH CAPITATIONBred To WinBreeder Of The Year 2016Breeder ProfileBreeders Bulletin Winter 2016Breeders' Bulletin Summer 2016/17Breeders' StakesBrent and Cherry TaylorBrian CollinsBright AbyssBroodmare Of The Year 2016Broodmare of the year 2020Bruce HarveyBruce PerryBryerley ParkBuckinghamBurgundyCancer SocietyCareers DayCarol MarshallCathay PacificCatWalkCelia CrawshawCharles RobertsCharmontCherry TaylorCheveley ParkChiantiChocanteChris GraceCircus MaximusClearview ParkClimate changeColdplayComplacentCoolmore AmericaCouleeCount ZeroCountofmontecristoCovCoventinaCrosshavenCylinder BeachDan MyersDaniel NakhleDanny RolstonDavid EllisDavid GreeneDavid MillerDavid MorrisDavid PaykelDavid WalshDawn PatrolDe GruchyDeloitte ReportDerrynDezDijon BleuDivine ProphetDolcettoDormello StudDr Frances PeatDunstan FeedsDunstan Feeds Stayers ChampionshipDunstan Feeds Under The RadarDunstan Horse FeedsDylan JohnsonElephantElusive BoxersEmblemEmma EvansEnglandEnvironmentEpisode OneEquibreed Seminar 28th AugustEquifibreEquine Property OwnersEvent StarsExplosive JackExportsFabulousFanaticFarriersFasig-TiptonFastrack Breeder ProfileFasttrackFerlaxFerrandoFiona BassettFirst Season Sire ReviewFive to MidnightFlemmington FarmFlying MontyFlyingflynnFoal NZFoalsFormidableFoxbridgeFrank ConwayFree Handicaps 2016-17Full of BeautyG1 DinnerGalloping GerteGary WallaceGeorgeGeorge ChittickGermanicusGift Of PowerGilltown StudGina ShickGoffsGore GuineasGraham BaxGraham de GruchyGreg TomlinsonGus WigleyGuy LowryGypsy FairHallmark StudHamdan Al MaktoumHappy StarHard MerchandizeHe Waka Eke NoaHe's Our RokkiiHe's RemarkableHEALTH & SAFETY ACTHedwood ThoroughbredsHeniHigh ChaparralHighview StudHiyaamHoney RiderHorse ambulanceHouse of CartierHoward Be Thy NameHumidorI Am A StarIain RentonImmigrationImperatrizImposing LassImposinglyInfantryInside AgentIRDIrelandIts Time For MagicJanine DunlopJeanette BroomeJen CampinJericho CupJezabeelJimmy ChouxJohn BergerJohn FokerdJohn Messara Report Release Date 30 August 2018John ThompsonJohn WoodJonny OrrJulian CorbanJust Got HomeJustamaizKawiKay HoodKaye SandersKeanoKeenelandKevin GrayKevin HickmanKevin PrattKhalesKick BackKinaneKing of ComedyKoru ThoroughbredsKyla RobbKyla Robb BlogKylie FawcettKylin 500 ClubLa DiosaLa RomaneeLasarlaLegless VeuveLet Her RipLetham StudLib PetagnaLibby BleakleyLifesaverLightning StakesLincoln BlueLincoln FarmsLiz AllenLloch-Haven ThoroughbredsLondon ExpressLong Acres StudLorna MooreLuigi MuolloMadame De SoirMajor TomMakfiMakfi StakesMangaroa Flo JoMansfield FarmMarch 2016Mark CorcoranMark TreweekMary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever AwardMaster PaintonMay SaleMcQuadeMeeska MooskaMegan LieftingMeleka BelleMembersMiami boundMichael MoranMichael O'KeefeMichael SheridanMicheal StedmanMichelle SabaMick PrestonMiss Three StarsMiss VistaMiss WilsonMondoraniMongolian khanMonovaleMonovale FarmMontoyas SecretMonty RobertsMonza CircuitoMPIMustang ValleyNahkleNeedle and ThreadNew zealand racing hall of fameNew Zealand Small Breeder of the YearNigel AuretNight's WatchNitrogenNot An OptionNurse KitchenNZ Bred G1 WinnersNZ Breeder of the YearNZ First season sires 2018NZ HOTYNZ Racing AwardsNZ Racing StructureNZB AirfreightNZB Yearling SalesNZEHANZERFNZRBNZTBA Breeders Bulletin Autumn 2018NZTBA OfficeNZTBA RestructureNZTBA Te Aroha Breeders DayNZTROF March 2017OctapussyOctasongOlly TuthillOn The RocksOne One TwoOnly WordsOpulenceOur AbbadeanOWNERS FEDERATIONPaisley ParkPark Hill StablesPaul GollanPaul MoroneyPaul YesbergPencarrowPencarrow StudPentirePerfect FitPerfectly ReadyPeter and Heather CrofskeyPeter and Sue WestendPeter NewsomPeter SmithPeter WalkerPhilamorPhilip SmythPhill CataldoPiaggioPins 'N' NeedlesPiroplasmosisPlatinum InvadorPlusvitalPour MoiPRIMARY ITOPrince Of BrooklynPrincess JenniProisirProisir FoalsProm QueenPucciniPure ChampionPurple SectorQuiz NightRace Fields LegislationRaceFormRacing hall of fameRacing MinisterRacing Reform BillRageeseRaise You TenRavelston StudRaven DarkholmeRebecca DonovanRed GiantRedwoodReliable TeamRemindRichard CollettRick WilliamsRide To TimeRip Van WinkleRiva CapriRoad ShowsRobin ArcherRobt DaweRock OnRodger VarianRodmor Trust Lecture SeriesRomancerRon LaddRose of TraleeSacred DaySacred ElixirSalesSandy MooreSaracinoSaratogaSavigneSavile RowSavy yong blonkScorpzScott BaseSeabrookSeagramSean HawkinsSeason 5SeawayShadwellShane KennedyShoshoneShout the BarShoworosesSir James FletcherSky DarciSleeping BeautySophie's ChoiceSouth Island Foster FoalSpanish WhisperSpecial MemoriesSpiethSpyglass Hill SyndicateStakesStallion Coverings 2020Stallion Parades 2016Stallion Register 2018Start WonderingSteel StilettosStephen AutridgeStranglesSue and Peter WestendSummer PassageSunlineSunset PassSuper EasySupergiantSupreme HeightsSusan ArcherSusan WalkerSweet LeaderSweet TreatTaranaki Breeders' StakesTattersallsTattyboglerTaxTe ArohaTelperionThe Bold OneThe BostonianThe InformantThe KingThe Sunlight TrustThere You GoTicklishTivaci ShuttleTom LaneTommy HeptinstallTomsTrain The Trainer WorkshipTravelling LightTravimyfriendTrevor LukeTrue EnoughTurrettTutta La ClasseUberlebenUnderthemoonlightUpper CutUS Navy FlagVamos BebeVerdiVern TrilloVernanmeVicki PascoeVicki PikeVisasVolatile MixWaikato Regional Council ReportWait A SecWally O'HearnWayne DarlingWayne PikeWeanling educationWell DoneWellington BranchWertherWhat's The StoryWhite Robe Lodge HandicapWho Shot ThebarmanWilliam FellWinstarWinxWTBAXpressionXpressmymindXtravagantYogiZabeelZacintoZebrowskiZennistaZigwig
TAGS

Shocking’s I’m Thunderstruck lands rich Eagle

2021 has been the year of Kiwi-bred gelding I’m Thunderstruck, who showed his class and trademark fight when winning the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

The son of Shocking stepped out on raceday for the first time when winning a maiden at Caulfield in January and under the tutelage of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr has gone about plundering riches in his nine starts this year, with prizemoney earnings now surpassing A$5 million.

With six wins and two placings to his credit, including a last-start triumph in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), I’m Thunderstruck again had to bullock his way into the clear under Hugh Bowman to prevail in the lucrative Sydney four-year-old feature from Count De Rupee and Vangelic.

“He always has to fight doesn’t he? He would have won by further and cleaner and easier if he had had a nice run in the race but he always had to fight his way out and then finish off,” Mick Price said.

“It’s like the Toorak, the horse was there and the jockey was there for him. They were very brave and you’ve just got to chase these races.”

Winning rider Hugh Bowman was impressed by the feel the gelding gave him in his first time riding the Kiwi import.

“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. 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,” Bowman said.

“While I was making my way clear, Brock’s skipped away and he put about four-and-a-half lengths on us I think, but I didn’t panic.

“I balanced him up and when I went for him he found, but 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 win continued the successful season for Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking, who is now ensconced in the top five on the Australian General Sires’ List.

Bred by Cambridge couple Tony Forlong and Jennifer Jones, I’m Thunderstruck is out of the Edenwold mare Primadonna Girl, who was purchased for just $2400 as a weanling.

Despite a racetrack career curtailed by injury, Primadonna Girl has produced in the breeding barn, with her first offspring being the Group Two placed Cantstopthefeeling, who was sold to Hong Kong, where he is a winner.

It’s little more than a year since I’m Thunderstruck won a trial on a heavy track at Te Aroha for Forlong and Jones when prepared by Daniel Miller, catching the eye of astute bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo, who sourced the youngster for long-time clients OTI Racing.

“It was in the middle of winter and really heavy ground but he trialled really impressively, as good as you could see,” Cataldo recalled. 

“He was well back in the field, last turning in and he went from being last to three or four lengths in front in a matter of 200m. It was quite an electrifying turn of foot, albeit on the bad ground.

“He's brought that to the better ground obviously and he's got as good acceleration in any horse I've ever seen, I think.”

Cataldo is an unabashed fan of Shocking but has particular traits he looks for in the stock of the son of Street Cry, who won both the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

“Shocking was a great race horse, and in my opinion the Shockings come in two different shapes and sizes,” he said.

“I’m Thunderstruck is sort of taller, leggier, more angular type and to me they’re the better ones. They’ve definitely got scope and he’s having a great run at present.

“He showed a lot from day one with Mick and Michael and they've placed him beautifully, just giving him light racing preparations and the Golden Eagle has been the grand final all along.

“You’d say that he probably peaked in the Toorak and he maintained that peak in the Golden Eagle, so it’s a great result for all concerned.” – NZ Racing Desk

I’m Thunderstruck continues his impressive run of winning form with success in the A$7.5million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Photo Credit: Bradleyphotos.com.au

I’m Thunderstruck continues his impressive run of winning form with success in the A$7.5million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Photo Credit: Bradleyphotos.com.au


 

This product has been added to your cart

CHECKOUT