Mark Johnston completes Dante / Musidora double with Thunderous

Highest Ground was sent off an 8/11 favourite after lowering the colours of the well-regarded Waldkonig at Haydock and everything appeared to be going to plan on his step up to Group Two company.

Oisin Murphy took the ride with Ryan Moore on duty at Newmarket and the rising star of the weighing room moved smoothly through the field having initially settled his mount in fifth, with only Juan Elcano behind.

Irish raider Cormorant took the field along from Thunderous in the early stages and the former kicked for home a long way out.

Murphy switched Highest Ground to that one's inside and seemed to have the race in safe-keeping when hitting the front. He started to paddle on the rain-softened ground, however, as Thunderous gradually went through the gears.

Thunderous needed every yard of the one mile, two furlong and 56 yard trip but under a strong drive from Franny Norton, hit the front on the approach to the line to score by a neck. Juan Elcano was two lengths away in third.

The winner was given quotes in the region of 16/1 for the St Leger at Doncaster in September.

Thunderous showed he had come on for his belated seasonal debut at Newmarket 12 days earlier- when he had lost his 100 per cent record - and completed a big-race double at odds of 59/1 for his trainer Mark Johnston and jockey Norton.

They had taken the preceding Musidora Stakes with Rose Of Kildare.

Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father, said: "That was fantastic. He's had his ups and downs, this horse - he was unbeaten as a juvenile and then had an injury after winning at Newbury (in August), just as we were starting to dream of races like the Royal Lodge and the Vertem Futurity Trophy.

"He had another setback in March - although the consequences of that weren't quite as dramatic, because there was no racing in the early part of the year.

"Certainly when we left Newbury last year we felt he was a Derby horse. Just the way things have panned out, we've never had a clean run at that, but he's a horse we've always thought a huge amount of - and he's got a big future.

"He's very laid-back, and we were quite rushed getting him to Newmarket. The picture has been changing so fast this year, it's hard to make plans - but when it was announced that this race would move to this slot, we felt it was a good place for him.

"We knew going to Newmarket he was short of 100 per cent, but knew running him there would give us the best chance of winning here today - that's how it's proved."

On future plans, Johnston added: "We'll have to look at Group Twos and Group Ones now. His attitude and racing style would suggest he could be (a St Leger horse), (but) his pedigree wouldn't give you a lot of confidence for that sort of distance.

"It's hard to make plans this year. There's the Grand Prix de Paris, possibly. It's a nice problem to have, and we'll enjoy making plans.

"It's great to be back at York. Everything is very different - prize-money is not what it would be, but everyone is trying to make the most of this difficult situation.

"These races still matter a huge amount, and to win them both today still means a huge amount to the team."

Norton said: "We'd normally be coming out of today with the favourite for the Oaks and the Derby! We'll see where we go from here.

"He was off the bridle, but he was behind the bridle a little bit at Newmarket as well. He had to dig in deep today, but he did.

"I was quite confident and comfortable where I was. He loved that ground, and I think there's more to come - I don't think he's quite there just yet.

"He'd stay further, but we'll find out how he is when we get him home - whether he's sharpened up. He's obviously taken a step forward from Newmarket."

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