Saeed bin Suroor tries for 12th Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three success

Thunder Snow, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, leads a trio of Godolphin contenders for the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three Sponsored By Emirates Airline, highlight of Super Saturday at Meydan, UAE, on 10 March.

The four-year-old Helmet colt, partnered by Oisin Murphy for the first time, is seeking a first G1 success on dirt in the 10-furlong feature, having gained two victories on turf at the highest level, including success in the G1 Prix Jean Prat over a mile at Chantilly, France, in July.

Thunder Snow, who completed the G3 UAE 2,000 Guineas and G2 UAE Derby double on dirt at Meydan last year, has lined up in both the G2 races of the Al Maktoum Challenge this season and gained a neck verdict over North America in Round Two, run over an extended nine furlongs on dirt at Meydan on Thursday, 8 February.

Saeed bin Suroor is also represented by four-year-old Teofilo colt Team Talk (Pat Cosgrave), a lightly-raced Listed winner on Polytrack in the UK, who makes his dirt debut after coming home fourth to Folkswood on turf in the 10-furlong G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan on Thursday, 22 February.

Godolphin’s longest-serving trainer is going after a remarkable 12th victory in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three Sponsored By Emirates Airline, with Dubai World Cup winners Dubai Millennium, Street Cry, Electrocutionist, African Story and Prince Bishop featuring among his tremendous roll of honour.

Saeed bin Suroor commented: “Thunder Snow has been doing well since his victory in Round Two of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

“This is another big advance for him as it is a G1 race on dirt. I think that he will be fine with the step up to a mile and a quarter, but he is coming up against some very strong opposition.

“I am hopeful for another good result.

“We wanted to give Team Talk a try on dirt, to see how he gets on, and he has been working well.”

Boynton (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), successful at G2 level on turf as a juvenile in 2016, steps up in class and trip after readily taking a mile handicap on his dirt debut at Meydan on Thursday, 1 February. Charlie

Appleby reported: “I was pleased to see Boynton win on his first appearance on dirt last time out, although he is taking a big step up in class and doesn’t have the greatest draw in stall 11.

“He came out of his last start well and we are looking forward to stepping him back up in distance, which we feel is within his compass.

“We are hoping that he can run a solid race and potentially set himself up for Dubai World Cup Night.”