More Thunder storms to Park Stakes triumph More Thunder won for the first time this season when landing the odds in the Betfred Park Stakes at Doncaster. Since impressing in the Hungerford Stakes over seven furlongs last summer, he has raced almost exclusively in the highest company bar an outing in the Summer Mile at Ascot. Second in the Lockinge and the Queen Anne, on the recommendation of jockey Tom Marquand he dropped back down to seven furlongs and looked much more at home. Coming from last to first, Marquand only really had to get serious with William Haggas’ five-year-old half a furlong out and the 4-5 favourite hit top gear to beat Flora Of Bermuda by a length and three-quarters. Philip Robinson, racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail said: “I was very, very pleased. That was the More Thunder that I’ve been waiting to see. I thought he was an absolute standout looking at him in the paddock and he won like it, he really quickened away. “Tom says going back the mile ridden like that won’t be a problem. We’ll probably go for the QEII, that’s the plan. “Tom rode him full of confidence and he says ridden like this he is a terrific horse. The acceleration he felt under him he was never worried at any time. Very, very happy.” Air Force One (11-2) was a popular Yorkshire winner of the Betfred Portland after Clifford Lee timed his challenge perfectly to come home half a length clear. The Geoff Oldroyd-trained five-year old launched his challenge at the furlong pole and headed Twilight Calls in the final 100 yards. Oldroyd said: “He’s improved all year, he’s got stronger. He had quite a lot of issues when we first got him, but now we’re able to manage them he’s just getting better and better and stronger. “He ran with a penalty (last time out), he’s only gone up 2lb and I think York stretched him. I ran him too soon. “We’ll go back home and see how he is. We might think of a Listed to give him a shot, he’s just getting better and stronger.”
