THUNDERING STAR made it three wins from three starts with another facile victory over 2400m at Newmarket on Wednesday, 3 January.

 The son of Fort Wood and Lightning Duel raced handier than in his first two outings, looked more comfortable in the running and sped away from his rivals when nudged for an effort.

 Jockey Weichong Marwing said: “Thundering Star is still immature, but he is going along the right way and looks like a good horse for the future.’’

Mike de Kock echoed this and said: “He will probably run in the three Triple Crown races with the Derby as his mission.’’ 

De Kock bought Thundering Star at the National Yearling Sale for himself, Chesty and Debbie Wolfaardt and Chris Haynes for what is now looking like a  bargain buy, R120 000.

 They also invested in the colt’s dam, Lightning Duel, who was purchased for R250 000 by breeder Graeme Koster at the Cape Vintage Sale earlier this year. 

Koster, of Rosedean Stud, told mikedekockracing.com: “I really liked Thundering Star when he came to Charles Koster’s farm as a yearling. He was backward, but Charles and I agreed that he had a lot of quality about him. So when the mare came up for sale I went along to buy her. I went to R230 000, but Chesty Wolfaardt virtually forced me to go higher. He put his hand up at R250 000 and we secured her.’’ 

Lightning Duel has a weanling by Jallad at foot and is presently in foal to the imported Mellifont, by Woodman. 

De Kock and Marwing made it a double when Rambo Dancer colt Jive Talking scored as start-to-finish success in Race 6 over 1600m. 

“This was a top-class win from a three-year-old under top weight in a competitive MR78 Handicap,’’ De Kock said. 

Jive Talking is owned by Paul Attieh and Joe Stravino. He has won 3 of 6 starts and R116 000 in stakes.