Lightning strikes twice for Thunder Snow in Round Three

Thunder Snow filled the runner-up spot in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three Sponsored By Emirates Airline over 10 furlongs on dirt for a second successive year on Super Saturday, 9 March, at Meydan, UAE.

The five-year-old Helmet horse, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, broke smartly and raced in third behind Capezzano and Cosmo Charlie on the inside rail.

Last year’s G1 Dubai World Cup winner travelled well in the 10-strong field and was switched off the rail on the far side of the course. He moved up to second and challenged Capezzano for the lead entering the straight.

Thunder Snow was unable pass Capezzano, who won in 2m 5.02s, and kept at one pace in the final furlong to come home nine and a half lengths behind the all-the-way winner.

Saeed bin Suroor commented: “We said beforehand that Thunder Snow would need the race tonight as he hasn’t run since the Breeders’ Cup in November.

“This should hopefully put him spot on for the Dubai World Cup (over course and distance on Saturday, 30 March).

“He seems to have taken tonight’s race well and we will give him another two pieces of work before the big race at the end of the month.”

Christophe Soumillon reported: “I’m very happy with that second place. I knew before the race that the winner would be tough if he got to the lead with a steady pace and that’s exactly what he did.

“I’m very happy with Thunder Snow. He always improves from his runs. If you look at last year, at the same period of the season, tonight’s performance was even better than then. I’m very confident with him improving from this run.”