Having ridden four British Classic winners in his career as a jockey, 33-year-old Joseph O’Brien enjoyed his second British Classic winner as a trainer as Thundering On (5-1) posted an impressive victory in today’s Betfred Oaks on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs.
The daughter of Frankel was partnered to victory by the reigning Irish champion Flat jockey, Dylan Browne McMonagle, who was partnering his first British Classic winner. The 23-year-old said “there was never a moment’s worry” about the victory.
It was Sugar Island (25-1), trained by Joseph’s father Aidan who made the running. She was challenged two furlongs out by Legacy Link (3-1), with the winner travelling easily on their heels.
Sent to the front entering the final furlong, Thundering On sauntered away for an easy three-and-three-quarter lengths win.
Dylan Browne McMonagle said: “That was unreal. There was never a moment’s worry.
“It was so smooth the whole way through. She travelled like a dream, she handled the course and she got the distance. It was push-button stuff. She’s got a lot of class, and the way she went through the field was something else. If I’d pushed the button a bit earlier, she’d have won by even further. When I gave her the office, she just sprinted away.
“She’s a very, very talented filly and one to look forward to. She’s something else.
“It’s unbelievable. I’m very, very lucky to be in the position I’m in, riding these sort of horses. A big thank you to the team and well done to everyone at home.”
Winning owner Shapoor Mistry said: “Essentially, I have been breeding and racing since I was 18, and my family have been involved in racing in India for 40, 45 years now. My son decided he wanted to have a few horses racing here, so we gave our first filly to Joseph, and we got a Group One win out of her. Now we have a few horses in Newmarket and with Joseph, and we’re really enjoying ourselves.”
Joseph O’Brien said: “The first idea was probably the Prix de Diane, but given the way she was training, Shapoor and Pallon and Anthony Stroud were very keen to come to Epsom, so we did - and I’m very glad I did.
“Her dam (Thundering Nights) won the Pretty Polly, so she can go back for that, or the Irish Oaks - the world is her oyster - but I think we’ll enjoy today first. Hopefully she pulls out well and we can make a plan for the rest of the season after that.
“I suppose our main question mark coming here was whether she would stay or not; we knew she was very talented, but her dam didn’t stay further than 10 furlongs. But she’s by Frankel, so we decided to save as much energy as we could on the climb and then see what happened on the straight. She came alive at the bottom of the straight and won very impressively. I’m looking forward to seeing the replay.
“Dylan is obviously a top-class rider and we’re lucky to have him on our team. This is testament to all the great team we’ve got at home, from the guys riding out to working with the horses to vets and farriers. Winning a big race like this is a dream and it’s special to share it with everyone.
“It was an easy watch, really - she was a very impressive winner. To come to any Classic with a horse that has a legitimate chance is incredible. Her dam, whom Shapoor and Pallon and Anthony raced, died after giving birth to her - she was her only foal, and by Frankel at that, so for Thundering On to win the Oaks is very special.”
John Gosden, trainer of runner-up Legacy Link, said: “The winner came here with a big reputation after her good win the other day, and she’s a Frankel filly.
''They were well clear of the rest and Legacy Link has run an absolute blinder. We are delighted with her run, but she ran into one who was too good for her on this ground on the day. I think we both handled it though, and both handled it well. There were a lot of disappointments in the race, and it was a strung-out field.”
Colin Keane, rider of Legacy Link, added: “I was delighted with our filly. I thought we had a lovely run through the race and the gaps opened when I needed them. She got to the two (furlong post) well and I thought she picked up well, but then I saw this chestnut filly coming by me very easily. I don’t think it was lack of stamina. In other years we’d have been a good winner. I think we just bumped into a classy filly.”
Joseph’s father Aidan O’Brien, who himself was responsible for the third Sugar Island and the 7-4 Favourite Amelia Earhart (sixth).
He said: “Sugar Island ran well. It was obviously different ground. but she ran a good race.
“We knew she handles soft ground and they went steady enough, so it probably suited her to be where she was.
“Ryan (Moore) said he maybe had to commit a little bit early on Amelia Earhart, but she ran a good race, and we think she’ll come forward from the run. She probably likes faster ground, but she won in soft ground last year
“Cameo (7-1, 5th) ran okay too. Wayne was happy enough but said she might have wanted a stronger pace.”
