Akkadian Thunder

Akkadian Thunder did well to keep on as well as he did to finish second in the seven-furlong handicap that opened proceedings at Ascot on Saturday. Drawn in stall one, it was interesting that rider Billy Garrity switched him across behind runners to tack in last of the eight runners who raced on the stands side. It was a clever move, the stands side runners were probably favoured all day, but this was a race in which the pace held up well. The winner Grey’s Monument led the stands-side group and made just about all the running, while the third horse Run Boy Run led the group that raced out in the centre. Akkadian Thunder was a little keen early on, and he had to chart his way through traffic. He was checked in his run a little at the two-furlong marker but, once into the clear, he stayed on strongly through the final 200 yards to get up for second.

It was a fine run by David O’Meara’s horse. His first six runs – his three for Roger Varian and his first three for David O’Meara – were all on all-weather, but he ran well on his turf debut at Redcar in June on fast ground, and he stepped forward from that next time when he won a seven-furlong handicap at Doncaster on good ground. He was too keen on his last run before Saturday at Newcastle, so you can easily allow him that. This was much more like it, held up and settled and delivered late. This was just his third run on turf, so there could be more to come from him now, and he should do even better off a faster pace. He obviously goes well on soft ground, and he handled Ascot well, so he will be of big interest if he goes back to one of the autumn Ascot meetings now for a good handicap over seven furlongs or a mile. He holds an entry in the Challenge Cup back over this course and distance early next month, and he will be of interest if he lines up in that.

Ascot, 7^th September 2024