Thundering On was a mover in the Oaks market after making no mistake with a convincing win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes at Navan.
Trained by Joseph O'Brien and ridden by Joey Sheridan, the Frankel filly had already made her seasonal bow when narrowly beaten in a Leopardstown maiden.
She lined up the 11-4 favourite at Group Three level on her second start of the term, and went one better than her second-placed run at this grade last year when a three-and-a-quarter-length winner in a field of seven.
Thundering On charges on to a convincing win in the @IrishEBF_ Salsabil Stakes, staying on strongly to the line under @joeysheridan8 for @JosephOBrien2 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BBlWPmKRSs
— Navan Racecourse (@NavanRacecourse) April 25, 2026
Sheridan said: "She's a high-class filly and she was unlucky to bump into another high-class filly the last day.
"I ended up getting a lovely position there in the box seat. The whole way down to the furlong pole I was just filling her up, waiting for a gap. I kind of knew it was going to open up, so I wasn't really in any panic.
"She has a lot of ability and she is going to keep coming forward.
"Her damwas a very good mare, so I am sure she will probably follow suit."
Amo Racing’s Tribeca is likely to be Royal Ascot bound after taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
Scandinavia returned to the track with a straightforward triumph in the BAR 1 Betting Vintage Crop Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien’s Justify colt won both the Goodwood Cup and the St Leger last term, proving himself to be a force to be reckoned with at the top level over a staying trip.
Under Ryan Moore he was the 11-10 favourite when returning to action at Listed level, and a length-and-a-quarter win saw him installed as the 2-1 favourite for the Gold Cup at Ascot.
Scandinavia oozes class in the @BAR1Betting Vintage Crop Stakes, striking for the duo of Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien 🏆 pic.twitter.com/IZY0GHtAuW
— Navan Racecourse (@NavanRacecourse) April 25, 2026
O’Brien said: "That was lovely, Ryan was delighted with him, he said he was very comfortable throughout the race.
"He’s a big horse, very relentless and he’s always coming home. He’s by Justify and he has that big, long relentless stride.
"He always went like a Cup horse and Ryan thought the same there, so delighted really. He won’t over-race (himself) and that’s good really."
Next up for Scandinavia is a race won by many of the great Irish stayers, including by Kyprios for the last two years.
The Ballydoyle trainer added: "The Saval Beg is the plan, that is what we are thinking. In the Gold Cup you don’t know (about the two-and-a-half-mile trip), but we are looking forward to him. He has the class and it’s great to have him."
Charles Darwin hit the ground running with a smart win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes.
The No Nay Never colt, a full-brother to the Group One winner Blackbeard, ran four times as a juvenile and after defeat first time out he was undefeated in his next three starts which culminated in a Norfolk Stakes triumph.
He made his comeback at Listed level over six furlongs with a penalty to contend with, and was victorious by a length and a quarter under Moore as the 4-11 favourite.
Chris Armstrong, representing Ballydoyle said: "It was good to get him started. He’s a bull of a horse, he’s been off the track since Ascot. He was under the penalty here and he will strip a lot fitter for the next day.
"He will go from here, all being well, to the Lacken at Naas and then the Commonwealth Cup.
"He’s a horse everyone has been looking forward to for a while now, and I think when he puts everything together he will be a very good sprinter.
"He has done unbelievably well physically and you see him when he is walking around the ring.
"All being well, he gets to stud and he will be very exciting, but hopefully there’s a lot of big races in between now and then."
Amo Racing's Tribeca is likely to be Royal Ascot bound after taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
After fetching 575,000 guineas as a yearling, the Blue Point colt was sent to Robson De Aguiar, and was a 17-2 chance to make a winning debut under Donagh O’Connor over six furlongs.
He duly obliged when scoring by half a length from Barrow Boy, and is considered a Coventry prospect with the Royal meeting in mind.
De Aguiar said: "He’s a nice horse. He’s still babyish, he’s still green, and I don’t know how quick he is yet.
"He’s an end of April horse and he has a lot to improve. A big, strong horse and I’d say he has a bright future.
"He has a very good mentality for a Blue Point – he’s very relaxed, he does everything right, so I’m delighted with what he did today."
Regarding future plans, the trainer added: "I’d say he’s kind of a Coventry horse, but I have to see how he goes after the race today. If he is ready to go to Ascot, we will try.
"I think we will go to the Curragh in a Group Three before Ascot."
