Thunder’s Naming Day

The early gloom and rain gave way just in time on Saturday, to provide a great day for Flight Of Thunder’s syndicate, who assembled at Hambleton Lodge to name their filly.

As the rain eased and the clouds parted, sunshine greeted owners not long after their arrival at the yard, in this picturesque setting nestled at the top of the Hambleton Hills.

Owners gathered in the yard and took full advantage of the much-needed warm drinks and baked treats provided by Rosie from The Drink Stop.

As lattes were sipped and muffins enjoyed owners prepared to leave the yard just as the sunshine arrived, to watch their soon-to-be-named filly exercise on the gallops, under experienced jockey Kevin Stott.

The daughter of Night Of Thunder, pictured above, coped really well with her extra audience, impressing onlookers with her professionalism as she breezed past third in the string, led by high-class yard stalwart Brando, no less and another Hambleton filly, who too will shortly be making her racecourse debut.

As she cantered back down, there was plenty of chance for her to receive some admiring glances from her owners, as they were able to see her at close quarters.

Upon her return to the yard, it was time for owners to get to know their horse a little better, as those all-important complimentary naming day pictures were taken.

Once owners had enjoyed the chance to see their filly and look around the yard everyone headed off to the award-winning Carpenters Arms for drinks ahead of the naming meal.

As ever, the superb catering at the Carpenters went down a storm, before Hambleton’s head racing manager Cosmo took to the floor to announce the name, Flight Of Thunder as the winner of the naming vote.

Owners toasted Flight Of Thunder with champagne while Roger and Pauline, new owners to the Hambleton fold this year, received a prize bottle of champagne for suggesting the successful name at their first attempt.

With Flight Of Thunder looking in great form and plenty of good conversation and laughter throughout the day, her all-complimentary naming day proved a real success.

Her owners are now eagerly awaiting the start of the turf season next month, as their filly prepares to take her first steps onto the racecourse.

With Flight Of Thunder taking her racing education well in her stride so far, it’s unlikely her owners will have long to wait too much longer before the real fun begins!