Bright Thunder
Bright Thunder was only fifth in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes at Sandown on Saturday, but she ran a fair bit better than that suggests. Smartly away and in the front rank from early, she was keener than ideal early on. She was always doing a little more than Sam James wanted her to do. Third as they wheeled around the home turn and still keen, she travelled best of all when they turned for home, and she moved easily into the lead on the run to the two-furlong marker. She came under a ride then, and she was headed on the run to the furlong marker, and she weakened through the final furlong as her early exertions probably took their toll. The front two pulled clear, and Lady Of Spain was impressive in retaining her unbeaten record on her first run since December and her first run ever on turf, but Bright Thunder was beaten less than two lengths for third.
This was a race that was run at a fast pace, as evidenced by the winner's finishing speed of just over 93% of overall speed, and Bright Thunder was right up with that fast pace from early. Her finishing speed was just over 89% of overall speed, much slower than RaceIQ's par of just over 101%, and she was keen. Karl Burke's filly does have good form over a mile, she was impressive in winning a listed race at Deauville in early July over a mile on soft ground, but a fast-run seven furlongs could suit her better. She put up one of the best performances of her career on her only try over seven furlongs when she finished a close-up third behind the dead-heating stable companions Tabiti and Saqqara Sands in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood this year. Saqqara Sands enhanced that form when she was only just beaten by Jonquil in the Group 2 Celebration Mile next time. Bright Thunder goes well on easy ground too, so she will remain of interest as we move into the autumn, ideally over seven furlongs or over an easy mile in a race in which a strong pace looks likely.
Sandown, 30th August 2025
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