Foaled, raised and grazed at Newsells Park Stud on behalf of owner-breeder Shapoor Mistry, Thundering On produced a stunning performance to win the Gr.1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom today, providing trainer Joseph O’Brien with his first victory in the Classic and confirming herself as one of the most exciting fillies of her generation.

The daughter of Frankel travelled well throughout under jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle before quickening clear in the straight to score in emphatic fashion. Any doubts surrounding her stamina for the mile-and-a-half trip were swiftly dispelled as she surged away from her rivals to gain victory by three and three-quarter lengths.

“This is really special,” said O’Brien. “It’s hard to find horses with the ability to head to a Classic with a legitimate chance. She was very impressive and it was an easy watch from the turn-in. She’s done nothing wrong throughout her whole career. You never expect to win a Classic like that and she looks like she could potentially be a special filly.”

The victory marked a poignant milestone for owner-breeder Shapoor Mistry, whose family bred Thundering On from their outstanding homebred mare Thundering Nights (Night Of Thunder). A Gr.1 winner herself when capturing the Pretty Polly Stakes in 2021, Thundering Nights sadly died after producing just one foal – Thundering On.

For Mistry, who has been involved in breeding and racing for more than four decades through the family’s Manjri Farm operation in India, the Oaks success was the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition.

“It’s really a dream come true,” he said. “We bred her dam, we had her granddam with us, so the family’s been with us for some time. I haven’t got many horses in racing – about five – so to win the Oaks… God is kind.

“Essentially I’ve been breeding and racing since I was 18 years old, so we’ve been involved for 40 to 45 years as a family. To have a filly like this is incredibly special.”

O’Brien was quick to acknowledge the emotional significance of the victory.

“Thundering Nights won the Pretty Polly for us and sadly died after producing just one foal,” he said. “For her only foal, a daughter of Frankel, to come and win the Oaks is really special. Hopefully this filly will keep the family going for many years to come.”

The Oaks triumph followed an impressive seasonal reappearance when Thundering On gained her first Stakes success in the Gr.3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes at Navan in April.

Ridden with supreme confidence by Browne McMonagle, the filly settled beautifully before producing a decisive turn of foot in the straight.

“She’s got a lot of speed and is a strong traveller,” said Browne McMonagle. “She was comfortable the whole way, was well balanced in the straight and quickened away really well at the end. She’s got a lot of class and clearly gets the trip well. The sky is the limit.”

Following her commanding Epsom success, a host of top-level targets now beckon, with the Irish Oaks and a return to the Pretty Polly Stakes among the options under consideration. For now, however, many congratulations to owner/breeder Shapoor Mistry and his family, and trainer Joseph O’Brien, on this remarkable achievement.