Indian racing celebrated a landmark international success on Friday as Thundering On captured the Oaks at Epsom Downs, delivering one of the most significant victories of recent times for prominent owner-breeder Shapoor Mistry and his family’s racing interests.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by reigning Irish champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, the daughter of Frankel produced a commanding performance to win the prestigious Classic by three-and-three-quarter lengths on Ladies Day at Epsom.
While the victory marked a second British Classic success as a trainer for Joseph O’Brien, it also represented a milestone moment for Indian racing. Mistry, one of India’s most respected owner-breeders and a long-time patron of the sport, became the owner and breeder of an Oaks winner, adding one of the most coveted prizes in world racing to a distinguished racing legacy.
Thundering On Wins Epsom Oaks
The success carries added significance for Indian racing through Mistry’s association with Manjri Farm, one of the country’s most respected Thoroughbred breeding establishments. Over the decades, Manjri has produced numerous Classic performers and champions on the Indian turf, earning a reputation as one of the leading nurseries of the modern era. Thundering On’s Oaks triumph now adds an international milestone to a legacy that has long been synonymous with breeding excellence.
                                  📷:  Megan Rose Photography/The Jockey Club
The victory is being widely celebrated across Indian racing circles, where Mistry’s contributions as an owner, breeder and supporter of the Thoroughbred industry have earned widespread respect over several decades.
Dylan Browne McMonagle enjoyed a dream ride aboard the winner, settling Thundering On comfortably before producing her with a decisive challenge entering the final furlong. The response was immediate as the filly surged clear of her rivals to secure an impressive victory.
“There was never a moment’s worry,” said McMonagle. “She travelled like a dream, handled the track and got the distance very well. She’s a very talented filly.”
Joseph O’Brien revealed that connections had considered alternative targets earlier in the season before deciding to take their chance at Epsom.
“The main question mark was whether she would stay the trip,” O’Brien said. “We knew she was very talented. She came alive in the straight and won very impressively.”
The trainer also praised the collective effort behind the filly’s success, describing a Classic victory as a dream for everyone involved.
Adding further significance to the achievement is the story behind Thundering On’s pedigree. She is the only foal produced by Group 1 winner Thundering Nights, who was also raced by Mistry’s family interests and trained by O’Brien. Tragically, the mare died after giving birth, making her daughter’s rise to Classic glory an especially poignant chapter for the connections.
Thundering On travelled strongly throughout before asserting her superiority in the closing stages. Legacy Link stayed on to finish second, while Sugar Island completed the placings in third.
For Mistry and his family, the victory represents the culmination of years of commitment to breeding and racing excellence. Few races carry the prestige and history of the Oaks, and success in the Epsom Classic places Thundering On among the elite fillies of her generation.
The triumph is also a proud moment for Indian racing, highlighting the growing international presence of Indian owners and breeders on some of the sport’s biggest stages.
As celebrations continue, attention will now turn to what lies ahead for Thundering On. With an Oaks title already secured, the Frankel filly has firmly established herself among the leading three-year-old fillies in training and provided Shapoor Mistry with a victory that will be remembered for years to come.
The Oaks may have been run at Epsom, but the achievement resonated far beyond England, with racing fans across India celebrating a memorable international success for one of the country’s most prominent racing figures.
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