Qipco 2000 Guineas
Group 1, Newmarket 15.50 £400,000 added, 3yo only, 1m, Class 1
Saturday 3rd May 2014

1 Night Of Thunder 40/1
2 Kingman 6/4F
3 Australia 5/2
14 ran Distances: ½l, hd, 2¼l
TIME 1m 36.61s (slow by 1.51s)

Richard Hannon's Night Of Thunder caused a major surprise by beating the major fancies in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Night Of Thunder
© Racehorse Photos

Kingman was sent off the favourite and finished second, beaten half a length, with Australia putting in a great trial for the Derby in third place, a further head away. The winner's better-fancied stablemate Toormore faded after setting the pace on the near side when the field split into two distinct groups.

Night Of Thunder began his run on the far side but drifted over to the near side in the closing stages before taking the spoils to give Fallon his fifth success in the race.

The jockey said: "I thought he'd given it away, but he's a good horse and hopefully he can continue."

An emotional Hannon, in his rookie season as a trainer, said: "We always thought a lot of him and he's done it well. He gets a mile, no problem, and he settled better today. He pulled a little bit in the Greenham Stakes and he's turned the form around with Kingman."

Night Of Thunder now has the option of travelling to the Curragh to contest the Irish equivalent on May 24, for which he would need to be supplemented.

Hannon went on: "We'll have to talk to Bruce Raymond (racing manager for owner Saeed Manana), but I'd imagine it will be either the Irish Guineas or the St James's Palace at Royal Ascot. Shifting Power ran great to finish fourth and could be a French Derby horse."

Kingman
© Racehorse Photos

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Kingman's owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "He ran a great race. The field splitting was not ideal, but that's racing and we accept that. He has won his side of the field and we'll have bigger disappointments than finishing second in a Classic. The ground was fine and the winner's the winner, he won it fair and square.

"I imagine it will be the St James's Palace, although Ireland's not out of the question."

Aidan O'Brien was thrilled with the fast-finishing Australia, who was shortened in price at the head of the betting for the Investec Derby at Epsom.

Australia
© Caroline Norris

The Ballydoyle handler said: "Joseph (O'Brien, jockey) was always going to follow the pace, and with Toormore on his side it made sense to stay where he was. The field split, but you have to be delighted with him.

"We'll talk to the boys, but the Derby trip shouldn't be a problem. Obviously he was working like a Guineas horse. He has run well, but he should be able to step up for the Derby trip. He's still a baby."

Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (206th Running)
(British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£450,000 added, 3yo only, 1m, Class 1
14 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	SP Distance
1	Night Of Thunder R Hannon	K Fallon 9st 0lbs	40 - 1 Winner
2	Kingman J H M Gosden	James Doyle 9st 0lbs	6 - 4 1/2 length
3	Australia A P O'Brien	J P O'Brien 9st 0lbs	5 - 2 Head
4	Shifting Power R Hannon	L Dettori 9st 0lbs	50 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
5	Charm Spirit F Head	O Peslier 9st 0lbs	33 - 1 3/4 length
6	Noozhoh Canarias E Penate	C Soumillon 9st 0lbs	22 - 1 1/2 length
7	Toormore R Hannon	R Hughes 9st 0lbs	15 - 2 Short Head
8	Kingston Hill R Varian	Andrea Atzeni 9st 0lbs	10 - 1 3/4 length
9	War Command A P O'Brien	R L Moore 9st 0lbs	8 - 1 Head
10	The Grey Gatsby K A Ryan	J P Spencer 9st 0lbs	66 - 1 3/4 length
11	Bookrunner M Delzangles	C P Lemaire 9st 0lbs	33 - 1 3/4 length
12	Master The World D R C Elsworth	L P Keniry 9st 0lbs	100 - 1 11 lengths
13	Ertijaal W J Haggas	P Hanagan 9st 0lbs	33 - 1 3/4 length
14	Outstrip C Appleby	M Barzalona 9st 0lbs	25 - 1 1 1/4 length