More Thunder Eyes Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Return
Haggas Hails a Doubt-Free Return
More Thunder won the Gr.2 Park Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster on 12 September 2026, coming from last to first to beat Flora Of Bermuda by one and three-quarter lengths under Tom Marquand. Qirat finished a neck away in third. The result answered questions raised by two disappointing runs through the summer and gave William Haggas a clear marker that the horse retained his form at the top level heading into autumn.
The Gr.2 Park Stakes was run over 7f at Doncaster on 12 September 2026, where More Thunder, trained by William Haggas and owned by Saeed Suhail, beat Flora Of Bermuda by one and three-quarter lengths with Qirat a neck back in third. The winner collected £93,572 (US$124,451) from a field of eight runners, with Tom Marquand in the saddle throughout.
With Tom Marquand delivering a well-judged hold-up ride at Doncaster, connections are hopeful that similarly patient tactics can pay off over Ascot's straight mile.
Held up towards the rear early rather than being asked for an effort too soon, More Thunder came from last to make smooth headway through the seven furlongs before getting up to beat Flora Of Bermuda at Doncaster.
A Season of Highs and Setbacks
The Doncaster success was more a restoration than a breakthrough, coming after a campaign that had already produced Group-level form earlier in the year. More Thunder won the Gr.2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury and followed with victory in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket, form that established him as a leading miler on the domestic circuit before his form dipped through the middle of the summer.
The horse has run twice at Ascot this season, finishing second behind Ten Bob Tony in the Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes in June, form that suggested the ability to mix it at the top level was clearly there. A subsequent fourth-place finish to Zeus Olympios in the Summer Mile in July, when sent off favourite, followed.
Robinson does not believe the Ascot bend is the issue behind those two runs, pointing instead to a lack of a genuine gallop. "Going back to Ascot for a straight mile will suit as the last time he ran there over a mile he would probably have won had there been a good gallop. There is no reason he can't run round a bend that's for sure," he said. "More essential is that there is a proper gallop and no messing about."
More Thunder Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
With the Doncaster form back in place, connections confirmed where More Thunder heads next.
"More Thunder has come out of the race well and been bubbling apparently since the weekend and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is the plan," said Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.
British Champions Day takes place at Ascot on Saturday 18 October 2026, giving the yard just over a month to prepare their horse for what would rank among the biggest tests of his campaign.