Thunder Snow a class apart in UAE 2000 Guineas

Thunder Snow routed eight rivals when powering to an impressive success on his first appearance on dirt in the mile G3 UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan, UAE, on Saturday, February 11.
 
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt, a turf G1 winner in France on his final juvenile start last season, broke smartly and raced a close third towards the outside before moving up to lead at the half-way point.
 
Bee Jersey looked set to challenge at the top of the straight but Thunder Snow readily went clear, with Christophe Soumillon able to ease the three-year-old son of Helmet down in the closing stages for a five and three-quarter length victory in 1m 38.48s.
 
Capezzano, who moved up to dispute the running after a couple of furlongs, kept on in third for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.
 
Saeed bin Suroor said: “Thunder Snow won well and it was an easy race for him on his first dirt start.

“He has a couple of options now - the UAE Derby (G2, 9.5f) on Dubai World Cup Night (March 25) or the Al Bastakiya (Listed, 9.5f) on Super Saturday (March 4) beforehand.
 
“We will see how out of this race and discuss it but I was very pleased with his performance today.”
 
Christophe Soumillon added: “Saeed told me that Thunder Snow had galloped on the dirt here a few times and seemed to enjoy it, so it was better to be a bit more confident.
 
“The way he was running on heavy ground in France, it looked like he could get out of it quite easily, so I was not really worried about the dirt. When I cantered down to the start, he was showing a lovely action on it.
 
“I knew he was better than every other horse in the race and, if you can have some good gate speed and get out of the kickback, you already have a great chance.
 
“The field was a little smaller with two non-runners, which suited us as well because I was always travelling very easily close to the pace.
 
“Thunder Snow was looking quite fit today - he looked as though he was really concentrating but quite relaxed as well. He is a lovely horse to ride.
 
“He should stay further if connections want to go for the UAE Derby, but he will be a very nice horse back in Europe.”
 
Charlie Appleby remarked: “It was a good step forward for Capezzano and he gained more experience.
 
“Hopefully, he can head towards the Al Bastakiya.”
 
William Buick said: “Capezzano ran a great race and stepped up on what he has achieved in the past.
 
“We rode him to win the race, which has probably cost us second in the end, but he is still a very nice colt for the future.”