Thundering On strikes back to winning form in Gr.2 Blandford Stakes

Joseph O’Brien’s Gr.1 Oaks heroine Thundering On (Frankel) returned to winning ways in striking fashion when coming from last to first to take the 10 furlong Gr.2 Blandford Stakes at the Curragh yesterday for owner-breeder Shapoor Mistry.

Taken from the European Bloodstock News, 14th September 2026:

Freshened up after a disappointing performance in the Gr.1 Irish Oaks at the end of June, the daughter of Frankel was switched off at the rear of the field early by Ryan Moore as her stablemate Snapretend and Charlie Johnston’s Jennifer Jane traded blows at the head of affairs. Approaching the turn for home, Snapretend had won the battle for superiority and led the field of ten fillies and mares by three lengths entering the Curragh home straight.

She began to weaken passing the two furlong marker, as Jennifer Jane managed to wrestle back the advantage briefly, all the while the eye was drawn to Thundering On, who was being nursed into contention on the wide outside. With a shake of the reins entering the final furlong, Thundering On quickened up stylishly and soon sprinted clear to a comfortable one and a half length success. William Haggas’s Lilt stayed on for a never-nearer second, while Ger Lyons’s Red Letter (Frankel) was just touched off to finish third, just a nose behind, and provided her sire with a 1-3 in the contest.

This was an impressive performance by the three-year-old, who is now firmly back on track following her run in the Irish Oaks. On the back of yesterday’s triumph, O’Brien immediately highlighted the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October as her likely next target. Thundering On is the only foal out of the Gr.1 Pretty Polly Stakes heroine Thundering Nights, who died in 2024. She also hails from the immediate family of the Gr.3 Winter Hill Stakes winner Queen’s Best, the dam of  the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Queen’s Trust (Dansili), as well as the Listed winner Urban Castle, who produced the dual Gr.1 winner Domestic Spending (Kingman).