American test for Godolphin’s Thunder Snow at Kentucky Derby

Laura King 01:01 06/05/2017
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  • Thunder Snow has enjoyed some impressive victories this season on dirt.

    HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and Emir of Dubai’s dream of winning the Kentucky Derby could be realised on Saturday night, when his Godolphin colt Thunder Snow lines up at Churchill Downs.

    In 142 years ‘The ‘Run for the Roses’ has never been won by an overseas-based horse, although few have tried, racing on dirt being rarely attempted by trainers in Europe or Australasia.

    Thunder Snow will be trainer Saeed bin Suroor’s eighth runner in it, however, but first since a two-pronged attack in 2009. Godolphin’s best result in the race was fourth, with Frosted, trained in the States, two years ago.

    “He has a better chance than the horses we have brought in the past,” says the Emirati trainer, whose best Kentucky Derby result to date is a sixth place with China Visit in 2000. “He has class and he’s a Group I winner, plus he won the UAE 2000 Guineas and Derby on the dirt. A mile and a quarter won’t be a problem for him.”

    It’s probably true that Thunder Snow is the best horse Bin Suroor has taken to the race, in that he already has a Group I win on his CV, that coming in the Criterium International in France last October.

    On that occasion he was ridden by Christophe Soumillon, who retains the ride, having yet to be beaten in three rides on the colt.

    The Belgian had to be at his best to coax the son of Helmet to success in the Group 2 UAE Derby from a tricky outside post, wearing down the hitherto unbeaten Epicharis in the dash to the line. It was a win which showed the colt had guts, but today’s task will be so much harder.

    Despite the experience of two starts on dirt at Meydan, he will be unaccustomed to the frenetic early pace of the race and Soumillon will need to be alive to the possibility of getting penned in from his low draw, possibly with a lot of dirt kicked in his face.

    Factor in a tiring travelling schedule – from Dubai to the UK to America inside a week – and Thunder Snow has a mountain to climb. Rain is also forecast in the build-up to the race, meaning a possibly wet track and another unfamiliar surface to contend with.

    He has the talent, but will need a lot of luck. It might well have influenced Godolphin’s decision to send Thunder Snow to America – eschewing closer targets in the UK and France – that this is a wide open race.

    It lacks a real stand-out performer, and there are doubts about the favourite Classic Empire, who has had a far from perfect preparation. Always Dreaming, runaway winner of the Santa Anita Derby, looks another of the main dangers as one of a three-strong team trained by Todd Pletcher.

    Assuming Thunder Snow exits Churchill Downs safe and sound, there is little to be lost in running in what is America’s most prestigious race.

    If he’s beaten, there’s a plethora of excuses, but if he wins he will have made history. It’s a gamble, but that is what racing is all about.

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