four and a half lengths by the winner. On 3 May 2014, Night of Thunder started a 40/1 outsider for the 206th running of the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket Racecourse. The other runners included Kingman, Kingston Hill, Australia, Toormore, Outstrip, and War Command. Hughes opted to ride Toormore, allowing 49-year-old veteran Kieren Fallon to take the ride on Night of Thunder. The fourteen-runner field split into two groups, with Night of Thunder joining the group racing on the far side (the right-hand side from the jockey's viewpoint). In the closing stages, Australia overtook Toormore on the stands side, whilst Kingman took the lead from the Spanish colt Noozhoh Canarias on the far side as Night of Thunder began to make rapid progress. Night of Thunder overtook Kingman inside the final furlong but then veered sharply to the left across the wide Newmarket straight. On the line, Night of Thunder won by half a length from Kingman, with Australia a head away in third. The form of the race was subsequently boosted by the performances of the beaten horses: Kingman won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Australia and Kingston Hill finished first and second in The Derby, and The Grey Gatsby won the Dante Stakes and the Prix du Jockey Club. Night of Thunder did not return until Royal Ascot, where he started 3/1 second favourite behind Kingman for the St James's Palace Stakes on 18 June. Ridden by Hughes, he led from the start until the last 100 yards, where he was overtaken and beaten two and a quarter lengths by Kingman. On 5 July, the colt was moved up in distance and matched against older horses for the first time in the Eclipse Stakes over ten furlongs at Sandown Park Racecourse. He started the 7/2 second favourite but after reaching fourth place in the straight, he weakened in the closing stages and finished eighth of the nine runners behind Mukhadram. In September, the colt was sent to France to contest the Prix du Moulin over 1600 metres at Longchamp Racecourse. Ridden by Ryan Moore, he started slowly and raced at the back of the field before making progress in the straight. He finished third, beaten a head and a neck by Charm Spirit and the favourite, Toronado. On 18 October, Night of Thunder met Charm Spirit again in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot