I'm Thunderstruck provides great thrill.
Original article posted on The Thoroughbread Report
Until a couple of years ago, Melburnian Chris Fraraccio only had a minor interest in racing. But after an evening on the couch during lockdown, watching the night races at The Valley with his good friend and housemate Darcy Mangan, that all changed.
Mangan, a longtime racing fan, showed Fraraccio a 2-year-old trial from Te Aroha, highlighting a runner named I'm Thunderstruck (NZ). The son of Shocking and Primadonna Girl (NZ) (Edenwold {Can}) won the 1000-metre trial by 3l and Fraraccio was impressed.
The rest, as they say, is history.
“Darcy showed me the trial and I said, ‘I’m keen to buy a horse, let’s do it’,” Fraraccio told TDN AusNZ.
“So, yeah, he’s the first horse I’ve ever owned.
“It’s unbelievable.”
I’m Thunderstruck is now a winner of two Group 1s, as well as the $7.5 million Golden Eagle. The 5-year-old gelding has amassed a whopping $7,374,750 in prizemoney, and come Saturday, will get the chance to add to that tally and join some of the greats of the turf by becoming a Cox Plate champion.
I’m Thunderstruck was bred by Tony Forlong and Jennifer Jones, who purchased his dam for NZ$2400 from the New Zealand Bloodstock Selwyn River Stud Dispersal Sale in 2010.
Originally trained by Daniel Miller at Matamata, I’m Thunderstruck was purchased by prominent bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo on behalf of OTI Racing after winning that July 9, 2020 trial.
“Darcy’s dad, Tim Mangan, got sent a video from the Price-Kent stable and he and Darcy bought in,” the 32-year-old Fraraccio explained.
“They showed me the video and I took five per cent.
“I went to high school with Darcy, so we’ve been mates a long time.
“Tim’s been owning horses for 35 years, while Darcy has been in love with the sport his whole life. They’re the ones that got me into racing and now I’m hooked. Being in the horse with Darcy and Tim is unreal and we’re ecstatic to be in the Cox Plate.
“It worked out very well for all of us and we’re over the moon.”
One hell of a ride
I’m Thunderstruck made his debut at Caulfield in January 2021. Sent out the $2.60 favourite, he nailed Palace Whisper (Street Boss {USA}) right on the line to win the 1200-metre 3-year-old maiden by 0.1l under Michael Dee.
“I was watching in the stand with Darcy and (owners) John and Denise Gurreiri. He just got there,” Fraraccio said.
“That was the perfect start, my first runner in a race and a winner. It was a massive thrill.
“Ever since then it’s been one hell of a ride.”
At his seventh start, I’m Thunderstruck was given a crack at Group 1 glory in the Sir Rupert Clarke S., again, the punters’ pal ($4.20 favourite), he was far from disgraced, finishing third, 0.6l behind the winner Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
Next up was the G1 Toorak H. and this time, Fraraccio, the Mangans and the gelding’s fellow owners got to lift the trophy, after I’m Thunderstruck outsprinted star mare Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
“That was awesome, winning a Group 1,” said Fraraccio.
As good as winning a time-honoured Group 1 is, Fraraccio claims victory in the Golden Eagle was special for different reasons.
“There was 50 of us that went to the Sporting Globe, a pub in Richmond. Darcy and I convinced a heap of family and friends to come and watch the race with us and we hired a room,” he said.
“Enjoying that moment with family and so many of your mates… there’s nothing better.”
After resuming with a 0.5l second to Snapdancer (Choisir) in the G1 Memsie S. I’m Thunderstruck turned in a herculean performance to win the G1 Makybe Diva S. second-up.
Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) had set up a big lead with 200 metres to run, before I’m Thunderstruck, who appeared destined to finish second, pinned the ears back and flashed home to get up in the nick of time in what was a phenomenal performance.
Fraraccio said: “We were all sitting there in the Owners’ Stand and everyone had their heads in their hands. We thought, ‘Oh, no, another second coming our way’.
“With 200 metres to go, he just took it to another level and we couldn’t believe what we saw.
“I got up a bit excited because I thought we had won, but everyone told me to settle down until the number was in the frame.
“Thankfully, he got there.”
Daring to dream
Fraraccio is under no illusions regarding the enormity of the challenge on Saturday but said the gelding’s last-start second to Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) in the G1 Might And Power S. has given connections reason to be optimistic.
Before that race, co-trainer Mick Price admitted he was uncertain whether I’m Thunderstruck would stay 2000 metres, adding the 5-year-old was unlikely to press on to the Cox Plate if he failed.
“Mick had that question mark over him, so it was a bit of the unknown as to what might happen,” Fraraccio explained.
“So, yeah, we’re pretty confident and I reckon we’ve got as good a chance as any.
“I think he’s really good value at $14, I think that’s way overs.”
Fraraccio said he will enjoy the day, regardless of the result, and, owing to nerves, believes he will be sleep-deprived when he heads to The Valley.
“I’m over the moon to have a runner in this great race. He’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime horse, they certainly don’t come around often,” Fraraccio commented.
“We’re having a luncheon at the track, so it’ll be great.
“I can’t imagine I’ll be getting too much sleep between now and the race.”
Bitten by the bug
Such is Fraraccio’s newfound love affair with racing, Fraraccio, who works at a civil infrastructure pipe supply business, has teamed with the Mangans and Daniel Tibaldi, to create a syndication company called Ace Bloodstock.
They have purchased six horses, including the Charm Spirit (Ire) half-brother to I’m Thunderstruck, and most of them are fully subscribed.
“With the cash boost, we started a syndication company called Ace Bloodstock. We’ve just started up. We've got six horses, all with Price-Kent,” he said.
“We love it and thought, ‘What’s a good way to own more horses and enjoy it and make everyone else enjoy it?’.
“They’re all 2-year-olds and we sought the advice of Mick Price and Mick Kent Jnr, as well as bloodstock agent Suman Hedge, who has been great for us; he helps us out quite a bit and is a great guy.”
I’m Thunderstruck’s half-brother was purchased for $240,000 from the draft of Yarraman park at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
“He’s at Cranbourne and Mick and Jnr reckon he’s a similar build to Thunder,” Fraraccio said.
“They like the way he looks at the moment.
“We’ve got a little bit of a share left in him.”
Fraraccio said Ace Bloodstock recently bought a lovely Rubick colt out of Buon Auspicio (Bernardini {USA}), which is fully subscribed.
The colt is closely related to stakes winner La Chasseuse (Lion Hunter).
“Rubick has had a good run of late and the stable trains Jacquinot, who won the Golden Rose and went super in The Everest.”