Night Of Thunder’s outstanding season continued on Thursday, 5 June when his progressive three-year-old son Zahrann ran out the very impressive winner of the 12-furlong King George Cup at Leopardstown.
Settled at the rear of the field under Ben Coen, the Johnny Murtagh-trained colt had to come around horses as they rounded the final turn, but swept past his rivals with consummate ease to lead inside the final furlong and crossed the line two and a quarter length in front.
Zahrann made his racecourse debut with a close second at Navan before breaking his maiden by an astounding seven lengths at Cork on 6 May. His trainer indicated after the race that a trip to Royal Ascot could now be on the cards for this talented colt, with the King Edward VII Stakes a possible target.
A homebred for the late HH The Aga Khan, Zahrann is out of the G3-winning Azamour mare Zannda.
Night Of Thunder is enjoying a banner year, siring three Group winners last weekend alone. Only his sire Dubawi can better his number of Group wins among European stallions in 2025.
His English 1,000 Guineas winner Desert Flower lines up in tomorrow’s Oaks at Epsom, where she bids to add a third G1 victory to her outstanding record.
