England: McMonagle patiently rides Thundering On to forceful Oaks victory

Maybe this wasn’t a vintage renewal of the race, but there’s absolutely no doubt who was best of the bunch that lined up for the Oaks on Friday at Epsom Downs. Thundering On, ridden quietly from last by Dylan Browne McMonagle, won by a widening 3 3/4 lengths over Legacy Link – and was even more superior than the margin of victory.

Legacy Link, second choice in the race, was clearly second best, coming home six lengths clear of third-place Sugar Island, who made the running as a presumed pacemaker for her better-fancied, Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemates and easily bested both of them. Cameo, 7-1 on the American tote, finished fifth, a head behind fourth-place A La Prochaine, while even-money favorite Amelia Earhart never picked up and checked in a soundly defeated sixth.

McMonagle won his first Oaks, run at about 1 1/2 miles, as did trainer Joseph O’Brien, who had his filly spot-on for her Group 1 debut.

Thundering On, by Frankel out of Thundering Heights, by Night of Thunder, ran well in her second and third starts but came into her fourth race still a maiden. She came out of it, overcoming trouble and unleashing an eye-catching burst, a winner of the Group 3 Salsibil over 1 1/4 miles on April 25 at Navan. That marked a career-best for Thundering On, but the race, it turned out, provided a mere stepping-stone toward the Oaks.

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McMonagle quickly let Thundering On drop back to last of nine, and from the way he rode, sitting totally chilly, never even looking for position until Thundering On had already raced more than one mile, one could tell this trip had been scripted. Coming off Tattenham Corner and into the long Epsom homestraight, McMonagle ever so slightly woke his mount up, vacating the fence and following Amelia Earhart into a gap. Thundering On came inside Amelia Earhart and outside Cameo as Colin Keane on Legacy Link steered outside Sugar Island, launching a bid at the quarter pole with a very live horse beneath him.

But as Keane began seriously exhorting his mount, McMonagle just sat there – and sat, and sat, and sat. Her rider scarcely even moving his hands, Thundering On held her position about three-quarters of a length behind Legacy Link. The one-furlong marker came, and finally, McMonagle asked his mount and got an immediate response. Ten strides and Thundering On had taken Legacy Link’s measure. The Oaks was over.

O’Brien’s legendary father, Aidan, has won the Oaks 11 times. Joseph O’Brien learned at the feet of a master and clearly has absorbed his lessons. Watch Thundering On’s races and see O’Brien putting her in different positions, asking her to use herself in different ways. Each race built a foundation, physically and mentally, and Thundering On was more than prepared Friday for her big test.

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