'Night Of Thunder is very much a horse to target to buy yearlings by'

Richard Knight has been among the visitors making his presence felt at Arqana's August Sale, with four horses bought across the first two days, including the sole filly by the late Adlerflug in the catalogue.

Fresh from signing for Haras de la Louviere's Wootton Bassett filly for €750,000, the agent, who sourced top-flight winners Waikuku, The Wow Signal and Garswood, was off the mark on the opening day when striking the decisive bid for Haras du Cadran's Night Of Thunder filly out of German stakes winner and German 1,000 Guineas runner-up Nymeria for €200,000.

Knight also signed, at €320,000, for a colt by Darley's exciting son of Dubawi in Haras de Castillon's March-born yearling, himself a half-brother to German Group winner and Canadian International second Alounak and from the family of Matron Stakes winner Emulous and Kentucky Derby hero Mandaloun.

An established fan of the Kildangan Stud resident, Knight said of the pair: "I love the stallion, he's obviously top class. I bought Night Colours from his first crop and she won a Group 2 in Italy and turned out to be a half-sister to Mother Earth.

"I've used him quite a bit from a breeding perspective, while I like the fact I've got a colt and a filly. He's very much a horse to target to buy yearlings by.

"They'll stay in France. The filly was very athletic and seemed to have a good temperament, although she had a bit of white on her which may have put some off. The head of Cadran did think she was his best filly."

As the old saying goes, a good horse is never a bad colour and Knight has had practical experience of that through the near miss of recent Curragh Stakes winner Mauiewowie, another flashy daughter of Night Of Thunder.

He said: "I was close to buying her but she was covered in white and I was unsure whether I would be able to resell her. She was bought for 52,000gns and they resold her for 155,000gns, hopefully this filly is similar to her! I'm delighted to get this one."

Another filly to go Knight's way was Haras d'Etreham's offering by the greatly missed German supersire Adlerflug.

The February-born filly, who will also stay in France, was picked up for €360,000 and has a pedigree to match being out of a Lope De Vega full-sister to stakes winner Sassella and a half-sister to three further black-type winners such as Classic Trial scorer Sevenna Star.

Knight said: "She will also stay in France, I thought she was a very athletic filly and once again the manager of Etreham recommended her to me when I was over for the May Sale. When I saw her myself I was impressed."

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