Two well-supported Oaks and Derby chances represent the same connections this weekend. Both are to be partnered by Dylan Browne McMonagle as Thundering On goes for the Oaks and James J Braddock the Epsom Derby.
The pair are trained by Joseph O’Brien in Ireland. Thundering On, in particular, has been well-backed for Oaks glory, arriving at Epsom off the back of an impressive win in the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan. That race provided the springboard for Ezeliya’s Oaks win in 2024. It could well do the same for the daughter of Frankel too.
McMonagle recognises he is in a privileged position. Although a few jockeys can claim to have chances in both Epsom Classics, it is not a regular occurrence. One only has to look at the lack of Godolphin candidates in either the Oaks or the Derby to see that even the biggest operations can have an off year.
On Thundering On, McMonagle said to the Press Association via the Sporting Life: “She’s definitely matured a lot and strengthened up over the winter, and she’s a much bigger and stronger physical this year. She’s taken a huge step forward from two to three and she’s done really not much wrong this year.
“She’s improved with each run and it looks like she’s got a lot of class. She travels, she relaxes, she’s well balanced and she’s in good shape at the minute so everyone’s happy with her. Fingers crossed she’s going out of the life chance. It’s obviously a competitive race but we’re in with a live shot.”
“He’ll be a lot better going a mile and a half” – McMonagle
Saturday’s attentions will turn to the Derby. O’Brien and McMonagle team up with another Irish trial winner in James J Braddock. Owned by ITV’s Kevin Blake, he landed the Leopardstown Derby Trial in a last-gasp lunge over Pierre Bonnard. McMonagle believes that speaks very positively to his stamina.
“He’s hit the line like he’s only going to be a lot better at a mile and a half, and there’s plenty of rain over there at the minute so slower conditions aren’t going to do him any harm either. He’s a bit of an unknown but he’s improving and once they keep on improving you don’t know where their limit is going to be.
“We had a fancied horse behind us that day as well in Pierre Bonnard and he’s going there with a real live chance so you like to think that, with our lad beating him, that it would put him in a good spot as well. We galloped out strong that day and I think he’ll be a lot better going a mile and a half.”