Jockey Club Gold Cup the gateway to BC Classic bid for improving ‘Snow’

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is hoping much-travelled Thunder Snow can maintain his rapid rate of improvement against a cracking international line-up in Saturday’s G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in New York.

The race was inaugurated at Belmont Park in 1919, and while greats Man O’War (1920), War Admiral (1938), and Citation (1948) gave it worthy early endorsement, latter day stars such as John Henry (1981), Easy Goer (1989) and Cigar (1995) have consolidated its reputation for showcasing the best.

These days, it is also serves as a perfect stepping stone to the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic — there is a gap of five weeks between the two races.

Saeed liked what he saw when he went to the barn at Belmont to inspect Thunder Snow earlier this week.

The Helmet colt had travelled from Britain to the States, taking it in his stride, as he has most of the globetrotting he has undertaken in his eventful racing career.

“He’s in good shape,” Saeed observed. “He had a blow out on the track earlier, and it’s a case of ‘so far, so good.’ It’s going to be a tough race. There are some very good horses running in it,” he added.

Diversify, last year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, defends his crown off the back of a win in the G1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, while Mendelssohn lines up following an excellent second in the G1 Travers Stakes.

Gronkowski, the Lonhro colt who finished runner-up in the G1 Belmont Stakes, will also be in opposition.

Saeed is relying on Thunder Snow continuing to improve. “Every race he has had, he has got better. We are working toward the Classic, that is his main target,” the trainer stressed.

“Forget his run at York (he finished last of eight in the G1 Juddmonte International). He lost two shoes, and that must have affected his running to some extent. He is in good condition and ready to run a good race,” he added.