Thunder rumbles in eye-popping bullet gallop before Classic

A bullet workout prior to the big day is not normal procedure for preparing a G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic contender, but Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor will tell you Thunder Snow is anything but normal.

Saeed, who has always had the utmost faith in the G1 Dubai World Cup winner, believes the colt is one of the most talented he has trained.

Thunder Snow has proven himself both classy and versatile — as a three-year-old, he won the G2 UAE Derby on the Meydan dirt and finished second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas on Turf at the Curragh.

This preparation his focus has been on the dirt, and Wednesday’s ‘express train’ blow-out of half a mile in 47.40secs at Churchill Downs had clockers checking their stopwatches.

Saeed was far from concerned as he is keen to have the colt in a good place mentally on Saturday.

It is 18 months since Thunder Snow stopped and pulled himself up in the G1 Kentucky Derby, and nobody is any the wiser why he did so that day. He has run 11 times since and given no hint of even attempting a repeat performance.

After Wednesday’s gallop, Saeed said: “I’m very happy with him. He’s in great form. He’s shown me today that he’s ready to go.

“The rain on Friday will make the track faster, and it is expected to be clear weather on Saturday. He has drawn gate 1, which is not ideal, but I will discuss tactics with Christophe Soumillon and work out a strategy,” the trainer said.

A field of 14 will line up for the Classic, with big guns from both sides of the Atlantic taking part in what could prove a vintage renewal.