Hungerford winner More Thunder set Group 1 target with William Haggas eyeing Arc day

More Thunder, who made a winning breakthrough in Group company when landing the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last month, is to have his sights raised even higher for the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Arc day.

Trained by William Haggas, the flashy four-year-old had his BHA rating raised by 14lb to 117 after comfortably defeating Witness Stand in the Group 2 last month, prior to which he had landed the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket.

More Thunder has been successful in four of his five starts this year for owner Saeed Suhail, who also owns the Andrew Balding-trained Never So Brave, winner of the Group 1 City of York Stakes.

Haggas said: “It’s been decided that More Thunder is to target the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp; he deserves a crack at Group 1 level after his win at Newbury. If we feel he's getting a bit fresh at home beforehand, there is a possibility he could run in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster as well as France.”

William Haggas: trainer of the progressive More ThunderCredit: Edward Whitaker

If he were to take up his engagement on Town Moor on September 13, More Thunder would have a 3lb penalty to carry in the 7f contest.

Never So Brave is among the possible runners for the Foret, but he also has an entry in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day on October 18.

Before his York win, the four-year-old was successful in the Group 2 Summer Mile at the Berkshire track in July when he accounted for Point Lynas and Haatem.

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