Propelled by grade/group 1 achievements in 2025 from Ombudsman, Dynamic Pricing, Choisya, and Desert Flower, numerous young horses by Darley Europe stallion Night of Thunder have been hits this year at auction. That includes a yearling filly who sold to Amo Racing for approximately $3.5 million during the Arqana August Yearling Sale.
Next, one of his progeny sells domestically Sept. 11 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale on the second day of Book 2. Hip 865 is a colt out of the stakes-producing Irish-bred mare Pretty Paper. The bay yearling, consigned by John and Tanya Gunther's Glennwood Farm, was bred by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock. The yearling was foaled in Ireland.
Hip 865 is the lone Night of Thunder yearling in the September sale, providing distinctiveness that may attract buyers. Night of Thunder stood this past breeding season at Darley's Kildangan Stud for €150,000 (about US$175,728).
Speaking of the ongoing auction at Keeneland, Tanya Gunther said, "It's such an international sale. So you have a lot of the top European buyers over here, and I also think turf is becoming more appreciated in America, and Night of Thunder is a global stallion."
This year marks the first time any of Pretty Paper's foals have been offered at Keeneland. Three of Hip 865's siblings previously sold as yearlings at Tattersalls, and one at Goffs UK.
The yearling colt is related to five winners from six starters—one of which is a stakes winner: Love And Thunder, a Siyouni mare who won the 2022 Athenia Stakes (G3T) for the Gunthers and trainer Chad Brown. The mare began her career in Europe before her domestic success.
On opening day of the September sale, Glennwood Farm sold Love And Thunder's yearling filly by Justify for $975,000 to agent Hugo Lascelles.
John Gunther bred Justify, and Glennwood Farm sold the eventual 2018 Triple Crown winner to China Horse Club and Maverick Racing—the buying arm of WinStar Farm—for $500,000 during the 2016 Keeneland September sale. Justify debuted for China Horse Club, WinStar Farm, and SF Racing before Head of Plains Partners and Starlight Racing joined China Horse Club and WinStar Farm as co-owners during Justify's racing career.
Justify stands at Ashford Stud in Kentucky, where he commanded a $250,000 fee this year.
In an update within Hip 865's family, John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services' Deep Satin—a half sister to Pretty Paper by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah —ran second in the Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) this summer at Saratoga Race Course. She is pointed to an upcoming grade 1 start, Tanya Gunther said.
The lone Night of Thunder yearling in the 12-day sale with more than 5,000 horses cataloged, Hip 865 is also the first yearling by the sire to ever be offered at Keeneland September.
"So we thought we'd bring a little bit of European flavor over here to the U.S.," she said. "I sort of look at this as bringing Europe to Kentucky."
