Thundering Nights (near side) beating Santa Barbara© Photo Healy Racing
Thundering Nights showed great resolve in the closing stages to hold off a strong challenge from Santa Barbara in the Group 1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained filly was just denied in a Grade 2 at Belmont Park earlier this month but showed no ill effects of that journey and was well-supported here into 16/5 (from 4/1).
Shane Crosse sent her past the front-running Epona Plays just over a furlong out but the daughter of Night Of Thunder was soon strongly pressed by Santa Barbara.
However, Thundering Nights just found a bit extra in the final 50 yards to prevail by a neck with 11/4 favourite Cayenne Pepper finding no extra a further two and a half lengths away in third.
O'Brien said, "She's a great mare, she's very tough and every time you ask her a question she rises to the occasion. She's never run a bad race really and I'm delighted for Shapoor Mistry, the owner. I'm very proud of her.
“She always has a bit of a look around when she goes to the front and she did that again today but when the other one came to her she really fought back. Broome just nabbed her here one day on the line but she had an opportunity to fight back today and she did that.
“In America she would have won in another stride, the tight track caught her out a little bit as it was her first time around the bends over there.
“She had to spend a week after the race over there so she's only been back a couple of weeks. She trained there for a week, then shipped straight back and came straight here. She has a great constitution.
“She has options back in America, like the Beverly D, and she also has the likes of the Nassau and Matron. She's a Group 1 winner now so she's a very exciting broodmare prospect no matter what happens.
“Shane deserved that because over the last couple of days a few things didn't go well for him. That's the way it goes in racing and you just have to remain confident and keep doing what you are doing. That's what he's done and he was rewarded.”
Aidan O'Brien was pleased with Santa Barbara saying, “I'm delighted she ran well, I was very happy with her. After Epsom we were hoping it was the trip and the ground and it looks like she wants a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter as she's not short of pace.
“She did everything right. Joseph's filly was very unlucky in America the last day and she's tough. When she got to her she didn't surrender and his horses are running well.
“We were thinking of going to the Nassau with Joan Of Arc and maybe to split them up this filly could have the option of going to the Belmont Oaks in a couple of weeks time. That's one option. She's a big powerful filly and hopefully she'll be there for next year as well.”
Thundering Nights was cut to 8/1 (from 14/1) for the Nassau Stakes with Paddy Power and Betfair.
(GC & AM)
