Akkadian Thunder

O'Meara is no small operation. His yard at Upper Helmsley has sent out 107 winners already this season, which is a serious volume — the kind of output that earns a stable real respect on the circuit. He was candid about Akkadian Thunder on a stable tour in April: "He's got plenty of ability and a lot of speed, and straight tracks suit him well." That's a useful pointer. Flat, uninterrupted tracks where a horse can simply stretch out and run — that's where this one is most dangerous.

The ground question has been interesting, too. O'Meara admitted he thought the horse only wanted fast, dry conditions, but then Akkadian Thunder ran a stormer in the wet at Ascot, finishing second. Jockey Billy Lee was effusive afterwards, saying the horse ran a blinder and was only denied by a winner who picked up brilliantly late. In normal conditions, Akkadian Thunder has won 2 of 4 races — a 50% record that is remarkable by any standard. Over a mile and a furlong to a mile and two furlongs, he's won 1 from 3, which is a 33% win rate — again, very solid.

The one genuine puzzle is his record in the top races. He has run 13 times in Class 2 company — some of the best races in Britain — without winning once. A horse with his ability has clearly been aimed high, and that ambition is admirable, but it means his wins have come against softer fields. He last won at Doncaster in June 2025, and has not added to that tally in his last six runs, with recent form showing a mix of mid-pack finishes and one very encouraging second place.

He raced just yesterday, so the yard are keeping him active and busy. With O'Meara already flagging the Victoria Cup as a target and a horse who clearly has real talent on his day, Akkadian Thunder feels like one who could spring a surprise at any moment — you just need the right track, the right ground, and a clear run through.