(447) Australasian Oaks-G1

Morphettville. May 4. $201,250. 3YO Fillies. SW. 2000m.

1. TULLY THUNDER (D Oliver 55) b f 3 Thunder Gulch (USA) - Fleur de Chine (NZ), by Centaine (AUS). Trainer: R S McDonald.

2. She's Archie (P Mertens 55) br f 3 Archway (IRE) - A Little Timid, by Almaarad (IRE)

3. Arboretum (C Brown 55) b f 3 Woodman (USA) - Mariton, by Marscay.

3/4 len. 2 len. 2m 3.39s. 18 strs.
Click here for Tesio pedigree

TULLY THUNDER (4-b)

Bay filly foaled 1998

Sold 2000 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale. Price: NZ$350,000

Breeder: Plowman Bloodstock Ltd, NSW.

Owners: P & G White, Miss J Vowell, Mrs P Ward & Mrs L, Miss V, Miss G, Miss L W & M White.

Werk Nick Rating: A++

GP Inbreeding: New Providence 5f x 5f.

Age Starts Wins 2nds 3rds

2 7 1 1 2

3 14 2 2 -

21 3 3 2

Sire: THUNDER GULCH (USA) - Chestnut 1992. Group I winner; 9 wins, $3,802,763, Kentucky Derby-G1, Belmont S-G1, Travers S-G1, Florida Derby-G1, 3d Preakness S-G1. Half-brother to BATTLE LINE. From Line of Thunder (2d Cheveley Park S-G1), a daughter of SHOOT A LINE (Co-Champion 3YO Filly in UK; Irish Oaks-G1, Yorkshire Oaks-G1). To stud in USA and Australia in 1996. Shuttling to Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains, NSW. Sire of 151 winners of A$27 million - 24 SWs inc POINT GIVEN, SPAIN, TEMPEST MORN, TULLY THUNDER, TWEEDSIDE, C'EST L'AMOUR, BALBINA, CLONMEL, MYSTIC LADY, THUNDER BERTIE, MISS THUNDERSTOOD, SPARKS, VITA, ANATOMY, VEIL OF AVALON, RESTLESS, THUNDER QUEEN, CLASS, etc.

Dam

FLEUR DE CHINE (NZ) (1993). 3 wins, $76,960, at 1000m, 1200m, Taranaki Lion Red Classic-G2, Waikato Fairview Ford S-LR, 2d Matamata Breeders' S-G2, Avondale Ra Ora Classic-LR, 3d Lowland S-G3, Wanganui TV Heart Throb S-LR, 4th Manawatu Sires' Produce S-G1. Dam of 4 foals, 1 raced, a winner -

98 TULLY THUNDER. 3 wins, $329,200, SAJC Australasian Oaks-G1, Oaklands P-LR, MRC 3YO H, 2d SAJC South Australian Oaks-G1, Auraria S-G3, Sires' Produce S-G3, 3d SAJC Alcohol Go-Easy S-LR, 4th VRC Wakeful S-G2.

99 Thunderchine, b f by Thunder Gulch (USA). Unraced.

00 (Unnamed) b f by Thunder Gulch (USA).

01 (Unnamed) b f by Zabeel.

2nd Dam

SELLOU. Unraced. Three-quarter sister to I WILL. Dam of 6 foals, 5 raced, 4 winners inc -

FLEUR DE CHINE. See above.

SNEETCH. 3 wins at 1400m, 1600m, ARC Wilkinson Insurance Mile-G3, Rover Mile H, 3d NZ Oaks-G1, Sir Tristram Fillies Classic-G2, 4th ARC Royal S-G3.

Sandarac. 4 wins, 1600m-2100m, 2d CJC Churchill S-LR, Sth Island TB Breeders' S-LR.

Selliera. 4 wins, 1400m-1800m, CJC Welter H, Otago French Floozie H, Ford New Holland H.

3rd Dam

SANDERAE. 9 wins, 5f-12f, VRC Oaks, Wakeful S, A V Kewney S, SAJC Gothic S, VRC Essendon H, VATC Starlet S, Heath S, MVRC Merri H, SAJC Woodlands H, 2d VRC Edward Manifold S, Gibson-Carmichael S, 3d VATC Sandown Guineas. Dam of 9 foals, 8 raced, 6 winners inc -

Parcifal. 6 wins, 1200m-2050m, BATC Mad Barrys H, QTC Deception Bay H, VATC Attley H.

Rhodes. 3 wins, 1050m-1550m, AJC Showground H, STC Flying Kurana H.

Raison d'Etre. 2 wins at 1000m, 1200m, VATC Devonshire H, BATC Pat Welsh H. Sire.

Rapour. 2 wins at 1200m, QTC Birdwood Maiden H.

Romantic Orchid. Started once. Dam of -

I WILL. 6 wins, 1200m-2020m, BATC Chairman's H-LR, STC Captain Cook Welter H, Saxonvale Wines H, Newbury H, AJC Edinburgh Welter H, 3d VATC T S Carlyon Cup-G2, STC Frank Underwood Cup-LR.

Sandy's March. Started 3 times. Dam of -

SANDY'S PLEASURE. 4 wins, $265,340, 1600m-2500m, VRC Oaks-G1, MVRC Crown Lager S-LR, Pinjarra Oaks Trial S-LR, 3d VRC Wakeful S-G2.

Firm Decision. 2 wins at 1400m, AJC Leger H.

Real Grit. 3 wins to 1550m, AJC Maurice O'Shea H, STC Handicap, twice.

Sandy's Angel. Unplaced. Dam of -

Sandy Prospect. 7 wins, $150,048, 1250m-1350m, Toowoomba Hay's Emerald Bracelet, STC Proud Miss H, AJC Sheraco H, 2d AJC Wiggle H-LR.

4th Dam

Nell. 3 wins at 7f, 3d CJC Welcome S-LR. Half-sister to Tulak. Dam of 7 named foals, all raced, 4 winners inc -

SANDERAE. See above.

WEENELL. 6 wins to 7f, WRC North Island Challenge S, CJC Welcome S, Wairarapa Wardell H, CJC Pioneer H. Producer.

Papya. 3 wins, 2000m-2600m, 2d AJC Princess H.

Nelcola. Started 4 times. Dam of -

JUST LANDED. 5 wins, 1000m-1600m, VATC Thoroughbred Club S, MVRC Diamond Jubilee S, AJC Sailor's Guide H, VATC Storm Queen H, 2d VATC Tranquil Star S, Debutante S, VRC Ottawa S, 3d VATC Merson Cooper S. Producer.

Mulsanne. Started once. Dam of 2 winners -

Our New Horse. 2d AJC Canonbury S-LR.

Tully Thunder won the shorter of the two South Australian Oaks. Ridden flawlessly by Damien Oliver, the Thunder Gulch daughter reprised the 2001 success of first Australian crop member Tempest Morn. Oliver settled her in ninth and pounced to grab the lead 400m out and resist a determined challenge by She's Archie. Tully Thunder is the third success in the race for Ross McDonald, having earlier won with the Nick Columb owned pair Centaurea and Imposera. The first named is a trivia buff's pearl as Lester Piggott's lone Gr.1 success in the southern hemisphere. Only Bart Cummings and Lee Freedman have prepared more winners with four apiece. It was also the third success by Oliver, his earlier wins being on Mannerism and Episode.

Tully Thunder cost part-owner Peter White $350,000 as a NZ Premier yearling, from the Windsor Park draft. Classics run in the family, her third dam Sanderae won the Victoria Oaks, as did her granddaughter Sandy's Pleasure. Also in the family is Tristarc whom McDonald prepared to win the Australian Derby and Caulfield Cup.