Millennium Flame Burns on Through Night Of Thunder by Thoroughbred Daily News by Global Horse Racing News【◎気になったニュース▲】
25年目を迎えた新世紀において、Night Of Thunderが英国およびアイルランドのチャンピオンサイアーの座に初めて就こうとしています。これは、2000年のランキングでレーティング134を記録しトップに立った後に5歳で牧草病により早世した名馬Dubai Millenniumの血統が、その息子であるDubawiを通じて脈々と受け継がれてきた成果です。 Dubai Millenniumは、2000年にDerby、Irish Derby、Arcの勝者であるSinndar(132)や、King Georgeの勝者Montjeu(130)を抑え、世界を制覇するかに見えました。しかし、2001年4月29日に最初の種付けシーズンから3ヶ月足らずで牧草病により他界しました。翌年初頭には、その交配から56頭の産駒(牡馬27頭、牝馬29頭)が誕生し、そのうち17頭はG1勝ち馬を母とし、11頭はG1勝ち馬の半弟妹でした。特に注目されたのは、G1Oaks d'Italiaの優勝馬Zomaradah(Deploy)を母に持つ牡馬Dubawiでした。 Dubawiは、2歳時にG1National Stakesを制し、クラシックレースのG1Irish 2,000 Guineasを優勝、Derbyで3着に入り、ヨーロッパの権威ある定重量マイル戦であるG1Prix Jacques Le Maroisをも制しました。種牡馬としてのキャリアは、最初の2年間が£25,000、アイルランドで€40,000だった後、4年目の2009年には£15,000に下がるなど、初期は変動がありました。しかし、その後大成功を収め、これまでに63頭のG1勝ち馬を輩出。2022年にはFrankelを抜いてチャンピオンサイアーとなり、2023年以降は世界で最も高額な種牡馬となり、2024年以降はFrankelと並びその地位を維持しています。次シーズンも種付け料は£350,000で、1月には24歳になります。 Dubawiの息子であるNight Of Thunderは、種付け料€200,000で急成長を遂げています。彼もまた、2018年と2019年には£15,000の時期がありましたが、2023年以降は6桁の種付け料に達しています。Night Of ThunderはG12,000 GuineasとG1Lockingeの優勝馬であり、他のDubawi産駒であるGhaiyyathやHenry Longfellowと同様に、Galileo牝馬から生まれています。彼のG1勝ち馬には、Galileoの息子であるNew Approach、Teofilo、Frankelをブルードメアサイアーとする馬たちがいます。Night Of Thunderの主要産駒には、英国トップレーティング馬Ombudsman、G11,000 Guineas優勝馬Desert Flower、G1Dewhurst優勝馬Gewanなどがいます。 Dubawiの種牡馬入りした息子たちも多数おり、血統の支配を続けています。DarleyではToo Darn Hot、Ghaiyyath、Space Blues(いずれもG1サイアー)、Modern Games、Naval Crownがいます。CoolmoreにはDelacroixとHenry Longfellowがいます。その他、Ballylinch StudのNew Bay、Haras de BonnevalのZarakとErevann、日本のMakfiとBenbatlなどがいます。Dubawiの4頭のG12,000 Guineas優勝馬のうち最初の1頭であるMakfiは、血統の拡大に最も貢献したかもしれません。彼の息子Make Believeもクラシック勝ち馬でBallylinchの種牡馬となり、その息子であるMishriffもクラシック勝ち馬でSumbeの種牡馬です。Make BelieveのG1勝ち馬Sajirも将来種牡馬となるでしょう。 2002年にDarleyが発行したDubai Millennium産駒に関する記念本の論文で、John Sparkman氏は「リーディングサイアーであるIroquois、Sir Dixon、Whisk Broom II、Cozzene、Fort Wordは全てDubai Millenniumの血統にあり、この貴重な世代で彼がハイクラスな馬を輩出するという希望に実体を与えている。偉大な息子や娘、品種への永続的な影響 - Dubai Millenniumにはまだ夢がある」と楽観的に述べました。彼の言葉は現実となりました。Dubai Millenniumの56頭の産駒からは、G1を6勝し短命ながら種牡馬となったEcho Of Lightや、G3Sovereign Stakes優勝馬Belenusを含む5頭のステークス勝ち馬が誕生しました。また、未勝利勝ち馬Kydd GlovesはG1Ogden PhippsとG1La Troienne Stakesの優勝馬Shes A Julie(Elusive Quality)を、日本で娘のMiznaはG2American Jockey Club Cup優勝馬Decipher(Deep Impact)を輩出しました。そして、最も成功したのが3カ国でグループ勝ちを収め、今や世界の競馬・競走馬業界で大きな力となっているDubawiでした。 Dubawiが1月に24歳になる中、Night Of Thunderがチャンピオンサイアーとしてその地位を継承しようとしています。これにより、消え去る可能性もあった血統の炎は、確実に次世代へと受け継がれています。 As the new millennium enters its 25th year, Night Of Thunder stands on the cusp of becoming the champion sire of Britain and Ireland for the first time. This achievement represents the enduring legacy of Dubai Millennium, a brilliant horse who tragically succumbed to Grass Sickness at just five years old after topping the rankings in 2000, a legacy carried forward through his son, Dubawi. In 2000, Dubai Millennium, with a rating of 134, appeared poised to conquer the world, ranking above Sinndar (132), winner of that year's Derby, Irish Derby, and Arc, and Montjeu (130), winner of the King George. However, fate intervened, and he passed away on April 29, 2001, less than three months into his initial covering season. The following year, 56 of his progeny (27 colts and 29 fillies) were born. Seventeen of these were out of Group 1-winning mares, and 11 were half-siblings to Group 1 winners. Among them, the colt Dubawi, out of the G1 Oaks d'Italia winner Zomaradah (Deploy), emerged as the most prominent, offering long-term consolation for his sire's untimely demise. Dubawi himself had a stellar racing career, winning the G1 National Stakes at two, followed by a Classic victory in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas. He also finished third in the Derby and triumphed in one of Europe's most prestigious weight-for-age mile contests, the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. His stud career initially saw varied reactions; after standing his first two seasons at £25,000, with one year at Kildangan Stud in Ireland at €40,000, his fee dropped to £15,000 in his fourth year, 2009. Nevertheless, Dubawi went on to achieve immense success, siring 63 Group 1 winners. By 2022, he had surpassed Frankel to become the champion sire, and since 2023, he has been the world's most expensive stallion, sharing that distinction with Frankel since 2024. Both stallions are set to stand at a fee of £350,000 for the coming season, and Dubawi will turn 24 in January. Night Of Thunder, a son of Dubawi, has seen his stud fee rocket to €200,000. Similar to his sire, his fee was once £15,000 in 2018 and 2019, but has been in six-figure territory since 2023. Night Of Thunder, winner of the G1 2,000 Guineas and G1 Lockinge, is out of a mare by Galileo, a common successful cross also seen in fellow Dubawi stallions such as Ghaiyyath and Henry Longfellow. His Group 1 winners include progeny from mares by Galileo's sons New Approach, Teofilo, and Frankel. Leading runners for Night Of Thunder this year include Britain's top-rated horse Ombudsman, G1 1,000 Guineas winner Desert Flower, and Dewhurst winner Gewan. Dubawi has numerous sons at stud, further extending his sire-line's dominance. At Darley, these include Too Darn Hot, Ghaiyyath, and Space Blues (all Group 1 sires), as well as Modern Games and Naval Crown. Coolmore stands the new recruit Delacroix alongside Henry Longfellow. Other notable sons include New Bay at Ballylinch Stud, Zarak and Erevann at Haras de Bonneval, and Makfi and Benbatl in Japan. Makfi, the first of Dubawi's four G1 2,000 Guineas winners, has perhaps contributed the most to extending the line to date. His son Make Believe is another Classic winner and Ballylinch sire, who in turn has produced the young Sumbe stallion and fellow Classic winner Mishriff. Make Believe's Group 1-winning son Sajir is also expected to secure a stud berth. In his 2002 essay for Darley's commemorative book on Dubai Millennium's foals, John Sparkman optimistically noted, "The leading sires Iroquois, Sir Dixon, Whisk Broom II, Cozzene and Fort Word are all in Dubai Millennium's family, adding substance to the hope that he might have sired high-class horses in this one precious crop. A great son or daughter; a lasting influence on the breed – there are still dreams for Dubai Millennium." His prediction proved correct. From those 56 chances, five stakes winners emerged, including the six-time Group winner and short-lived sire Echo Of Light, and the G3 Sovereign Stakes winner Belenus. The Sandown maiden winner Kydd Gloves went on to produce the G1 Ogden Phipps and G1 La Troienne Stakes winner Shes A Julie (Elusive Quality), while in Japan, his daughter Mizna foaled the G2 American Jockey Club Cup winner Decipher (Deep Impact). The greatest of them all, of course, was Dubawi: a Group winner in three countries and now a force to be reckoned with across the breeding world. As Dubawi approaches his 24th birthday in January, Night Of Thunder is set to emulate him as the reigning champion sire. Thus, the torch, which might so easily have been extinguished, continues to burn brightly, passed on through generations.