Thunder Snow Blows Away Competition In Dubai World Cup

By Margaret Ransom

For the better part of the last year, Godolphin’s Thunder Snow was mostly known as the horse who did his best bucking bronco impression shortly after the start of the 2017 Kentucky Derby (GI), but all that changed on Saturday as the Saeed bin Suroor-trained son of Helmet left his bucking ways behind and captured the 23^rd running of the $10 million Dubai World Cup (GI) at Meydan Racecourse. Under jockey Christophe Soumillon, the handsome bay romped home by 5 ¾ lengths over the favored West Coast.

The final time of 2:01.38 also established the track record for the about 1 ¼-mile (2,000 meters) distance at Meydan.

After the break, Soumillon was easily able to hustle Thunder Snow toward the early lead after expected pacesetter North America got off flat-footed and, after battling briefly with West Coast for command, showed the way through pedestrian splits of :25.73, :50.43, and 1:13.89 for three-quarters of a mile. He was still full of run as he rounded the far bend, while his nine rivals behind were struggling to keep up. And under little more than a hand ride, Thunder Snow cruised to the dominant victory.

“When I came in the straight I could feel nobody was following me,” Soumillon said. “I knew I had to… (more)