Roaring Lion's First Runner to Debut May 12 at York

It is somewhat appropriate that the first runner for the much-missed Roaring Lion is set to debut at York on May 12, being the scene of his sire's Juddmonte International (G1) and Betfred Dante Stakes (G2) triumphs. Just like Roaring Lion, Thunder Cat (GB) will sport the colors of Qatar Racing. Bred by the Rich Legacy Partnership, he was sold to JS Bloodstock and Andrew Balding for £42,000 (US$57,664) from Hillwood Stud at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale. Thunder Cat is the second foal out of Clugston Construction May Hill Stakes (G2) scorer Rich Legacy (IRE), a daughter of Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) who won twice for Ralph Beckett and Qatar Racing having been bought by David Redvers for €75,000 ($84,818) at Arqana's May 2-Year-Old Breeze-Up Sale from Mayfield Stables. Rich Legacy is herself a half sister to Italian listed-placed Burggraf (GB) and is out of Borghesa, Gestut Ammerland's Galileo half sister to BMW 132 Deutsches Derby (German Derby, G1) and Vodafone Coronation Cup (G1) hero Boreal and Mercedes-Benz-125 Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) scorer Borgia. Thunder Cat is from the first and only crop of the hugely popular Roaring Lion, a son of Kitten's Joy who carried the colors of Sheikh Fahad's operation to victory in the Coral Eclipse (G1), Juddmonte International, QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1), and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) during a glorious summer in 2018. Roaring Lion, who sold to Redvers for $160,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, also won the Dante and Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) as well as finishing a close second to Saxon Warrior in the Racing Post Trophy (G1) at 2. He retired to Tweenhills for his sole season at a fee of £40,000, before he shuttled to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand. Having shown signs of colic on arrival, he was operated on but sadly succumbed to the illness after a brave battle. His son is set to face 10 rivals on his debut, including Queen Olly (IRE), a daughter of No Nay Never from the family of Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) second Tiger Moth, Papa Ricco (GB), a son of Almanzor (FR) and a half brother to last season's Prix des Reservoirs (G3) third Batz (GB), and Drafted (IRE), a Showcasing (GB) colt who sold to Manor House Stud for 130,000 guineas ($185,751) at Tattersalls Book 1 last October.