Betfred Oaks |
 |
|
| Group 1,
Epsom Downs 16:00 £625,000 guaranteed 3yo fillies only, 1m 4f 6y, Class 1  |
||
|
||
1 Thundering On 5/1
2 Legacy Link 3/1
3 Sugar Island 25/1
9 ran Distances: 3¾l, 6l, hd
Time: 2m 39.64s (slow by 4.04s)
Wow. Wow. Wow! 😱
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 5, 2026
𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐧 brilliantly wins the Betfred Oaks at Epsom 👑 pic.twitter.com/3ev8KpXbjH
Thundering On produced a devastating last-to-first display to win in deeply impressive fashion.
Sent off at 5-1 under Irish champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, the Joseph O’Brien-trained daughter of Frankel was anchored at the rear of the field in the early stages as the runners climbed towards the home turn.
However, as the race began to unfold in the straight, Thundering On travelled ominously well and quickly emerged as a major threat while several of her rivals came under pressure.
McMonagle remained motionless aboard the filly as he cruised alongside John and Thady Gosden’s Legacy Link approaching the furlong marker before asking his mount to lengthen.
The response was immediate as Thundering On powered clear to score by three and three-quarter lengths, announcing herself as one of the leading fillies of her generation.
O’Brien, who never managed to win the Oaks during his distinguished riding career, said: “The main question mark was whether she would stay the trip. We always felt she was very talented, although her dam, Thundering Nights, never stayed beyond 10 furlongs. Being by Frankel obviously gave us hope.
“We were happy to ride her patiently, conserve as much energy as possible on the climb and then see what happened in the straight.
“She really came alive in the straight and won very impressively. I’m looking forward to watching it back.
“Dylan sat and sat and was full of confidence. He’s a world-class rider and we’re delighted to have him as part of the team.
“This is a credit not only to Dylan but also to everyone at home. Winning races like this is what you dream about and it’s brilliant to share it with the whole team.”
Looking ahead, O’Brien added: “Her dam won the Pretty Polly Stakes, so that could be an option, as could the Irish Oaks.
“The world is really her oyster. We’ll enjoy today, make sure she comes out of the race well and then map out the rest of the season.”
A delighted McMonagle was celebrating his first British Classic success and said: “It was effortless from start to finish. She did everything we wanted and sprinted away from them.
“She’s very, very talented and as impressive as any horse you’ll see. I’m very lucky to be riding her.
“When you’re travelling that easily, you know you have plenty underneath you. I felt she would burst away from them and she wasn’t stopping at the line either.
“She’s all class.”
The 23-year-old added: “She’s improving with every run and the sky’s the limit.
“We came into the race very confident. The trip was the only question mark, but everything she had been doing at home suggested she would stay.
“There was never really a moment of doubt. I was sitting last and knew there was nothing coming from behind me, while I had everything in front covered.
“She’s got an enormous amount of class and it was a great training performance from Joseph.”
Betfred Oaks
£625,000 guaranteed,
3yo only, 1m 4f 6y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
