Excellent Jockey Club Gold Cup second sets up Thunder Snow for Breeders’ Cup Classic

Thunder Snow ran a tremendous race when caught in the final strides of the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes on dirt at Belmont Park on Saturday, 29 September.

The four-year-old Helmet colt, partnered as usual by Christophe Soumillon, broke slightly slowly from the outside eight stall, but soon made up ground to race in third, some way off the front two Diversify and Mendelssohn who went off very fast in the 10-furlong race.

The first quarter-mile was run in a blistering 22.72s and the half-mile in 45.64s and sensibly Christophe Soumillon let them alone before making steady progress on the turn for home and was switched wide entering the straight.

Thunder Snow came through to challenge the front two and went to the front with a furlong remaining. He looked all over the winner before Discreet Lover finished late and wide to get up and triumph by a neck in 1m 59.99s.

Saeed bin Suroor’s immediate reaction was to say: “I don’t believe Thunder Snow was beaten.”

The Godolphin trainer then commented about his G1 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline winner: “He has run a huge race – I am very happy with the performance.

“He needed it and we will now go for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1, 10f, dirt, Churchill Downs, November 3).”