New Group winner for Night Of Thunder

Cherry Tortoni wins G2 Moonee Valley Vase in Australia

Cherry Tortoni got his spring campaign back on track with a brilliant performance to win the G2 Moonee Valley Vase and give his sire Night Of Thunder a new Group winner.

Already a Listed winner, Cherry Tortoni proved his lapse in form in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney earlier this month was totally out of character, coming from last at the 600m to score comfortably.

The gelding becomes the fourth G2 winner, and a first in Australia, for Night Of Thunder who has 17 Stakes winners from his first two crops.

Cherry Tortoni, who was bred by his owner Olly Tait, is a son of the Strategic mare Tortoni, who is herself a daughter of Whisked, dam of nine winners include the champion Tie The Knot, the winner of 12 G1 races.

Cherry Tortoni is a member of Night Of Thunder's impressive Australian first crop that includes 63% winners to runners and 13% Stakes winners to runners.