More Thunder set to rematch Notable Speech at Ascot

William Haggas feels there is plenty more to come still from More Thunder after taking the runner-up spot in the Boyle Sports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

A creditable fourth in the Prix de la Foret at the end of last season, he was tackling a mile for the first time having been campaigned over shorter trips by his current handler and longer trips when previously in the care of Sir Michael Stoute.

Notable Speech came out on top for Charlie Appleby, but More Thunder (9-1) ran with great credit to come home two lengths behind him and inform future plans for connections.

“I was delighted with him and he ran a very good race, he got the trip,” said Haggas.

“He got caught a bit far back early possibly, but he jumped better than usual and the winner had a good turn of foot. He stayed on nicely, though.

“I still think he will prove perfectly capable over seven furlongs, but the mile was no problem today.

“He will probably go to the Queen Anne now, why not? He’s a really good horse.”

Karl Burke’s Zeus Olympios was a further three-quarters of a length behind in third and the trainer said: “He still ran a bit green and ran away from the stick a little bit a furlong out, which was a shame as a furlong and a half out I thought we were the winner.

“I didn’t really see how well William (Buick, on Notable Speech) was going until I saw the replay, but you can’t be disappointed and he’s taken a really positive step forward from Sandown.

“I still think he’s a work in progress and that is his first run in a Group One and I do think we can drop on one somewhere.

“I think that race showed his inexperience and Clifford (Lee) thought if he had a better draw they would have half-chased him along. I’m not saying he would have won, but he might have been closer for second.

“We’ll see how he comes out of it before discussing Royal Ascot.”

Roger Teal’s popular Dancing Gemini was a neck behind in fourth at 33-1 and may now be booked for a step up in trip.

Teal said: “It was a blinding run and we were probably a bit further back than we wanted and don’t write him off, he’s become a bit of a forgotten horse but he’ll be back.

“I thought he might get third and another 10 yards he might have done, he came from a long way off the pace.

“I think we’ll go up to 10 furlongs now and he’s proved the way he’s finished there he wants another couple of more furlongs. He’ll take a shot at the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Damysus faded to come home sixth, beaten over six lengths in total under James Doyle.

Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing: “James said when he went for him he didn’t have that explosive turn of foot we know he has and showed at Newmarket, so it’s a bit of a head-scratcher.

“He showed himself to be in great nick at home and he’s pulled up fine, but it’s very inconclusive.

“The irritating thing is we haven’t learned much today, but we live to fight another day, we’re sure he’s a good horse and there will be plenty more good days in him.”