It is very disappointing to announce that Thunderstruck injured his knee in what looked like a very comfortable and spectacular victory on Saturday. In consultation with the vets and racing manager, Jehan Malherbe, given how late it is in the season and considering all that he has done for us and the brilliant season he has had, not to mention his value as a stallion, a decision has been made to retire him immediately.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mary Slack for entrusting me with this magnificent colt throughout his short but illustrious racing career.

Thunderstruck, notable for his good looks and soundness (before his injury), has all the credentials to be a top stallion.

Bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm, Thunderstruck was a R1 000 000 buy from the 2021 National Yearling Sale, and he proved worth every cent.

A brilliant two-year-old, Thunderstruck won twice from just three starts at two and defeated the likes of Gladatorian, Prophet, Countdown and Cliff Top when victorious in the 2022 G1 Gold Medallion.

He won his first start at three and showed high-class form as a sprinter at three when runner-up in the G1 Golden Horse Sprint and G2 Post Merchants. Thunderstruck also finished a close-up third, behind Equus Champion Isivunguvungu, in the G1 Mercury Sprint, but showed his true class at four.

In his final season of racing, Thunderstruck confirmed his status as one of South Africa’s best sprinters, winning the G1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint and the G2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes. He was beaten less than half a length when runner-up in the G1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship.

Thunderstruck won five of his last six starts, and he looks like a leading contender for this season’s Equus Champion Sprinter Award.

By a top-class sire in the form of Rafeef and out of a G2 Post Merchants-winning daughter of Var, Thunderstruck has everything it takes to succeed at stud.

He will stand at Ridgemont South Africa.

-seantarryracing.co.za

Image: Candiese Lenferna