Former Australian shuttler Thunder Gulch (USA) has been retired from the breeding barn by Kentucky based Ashford Stud.

The Coolmore Stud controlled 23 year-old stallion is “in great health and doing well” according to Ashford spokesman Charlie O’Connor.

Thunder Gulch (Gulch – Line Of Thunder by Storm Bird) won the 1995 Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes before retiring to stud.  He covered 16 books at Ashford and another northern season at East Stud in Japan in 1999.

Coolmore also shuttled him to Australia for seven years until 2002 and to Argentina for a one-off southern book.

Thunder Gulch has sired 96 stakes winners headed by the outstanding colt Point Given who is now siring Group 1 winners of his own at Calumet Farm.  Point Given won the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Haskell Invitational and Travers Stakes to help his sire claim Champion USA honours in 2001.

The best of Thunder Gulch’s progeny in this part of the world were Group 1 winners Shot Of Thunder (MRC Toorak Hcp), Tempest Morn (STC Ansett Australia Stakes) and Tully Thunder (SAJC Australasian Oaks).