LORD THUNDER

12th Sep 2021

After Nervous Witness the week before, there was a lot of expectation on Sunday around another Price Bloodstock first starter from the David Hayes stable and Lord Thunder didn’t let anyone down.

With an unusual stage on which to start Lord Thunder’s career – a dirt 1200m sprint – a win would break new ground even in Hayes’ distinguished training career but the son of Night Of Thunder handled the task well, even if the race didn’t quite go to plan.

“He did a few little things wrong, he was a little bit tardy away, so we didn’t lead as I thought that we might,” said jockey Blake Shinn. “But then he mustered speed beautifully and settled well in the box seat, he was comfortable following other horses. When he came to the outside in the straight, he presented like he was going to win by three lengths but just floated a little bit, which is probably just inexperience.”

After a brief tussle for supremacy with some more experienced rivals, Lord Thunder ultimately got the best of the contest and came clear but without posting any fancy margin.

“Maybe that will be a blessing in disguise because he will stay in the class next time and for a horse still learning his trade that is a positive,” Shinn explained. “There’s plenty of upside to him. He’s a lovely horse with all the attributes he needs to be progressive and I’m sure he will have learned a lot from his first race experience.”