[1] Nocturnal Spree's sire Supreme Sovereign won the Free Handicap in 1967 but was not a great success as a breeding stallion.
The best of his other progeny was Nocturnal Spree's contemporary Mark Anthony, a colt whose wins included the Greenham Stakes.
As a yearling, Nocturnal Spree was sent to the Ballsbridge sales in Dublin where she was bought for 6,200 guineas on behalf of Anne O'Kelly.
Racing outside Ireland for the only time, she started at odds of 14/1 in a field of sixteen fillies, with Rose Bowl being made the 7/4 favourite.
[4] Her victory was a first classic success for her owner, trainer and jockey, In the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh three weeks later, Nocturnal Spree failed to reproduce her Newmarket form, finishing fourth to Miralla, ten lengths behind the winner.
Nocturnal Spree's stud record was unexceptional, but she produced two stakes-winning fillies in Concordene (sired by Northern Dancer)[5] and Norfolk Lavender (by Ascot Knight).