Thunder Snow – a true champion

Saeed bin Suroor, who has enjoyed great success in the UAE Derby over the years, won the Classic for an eighth time with Thunder Snow on Saturday, March 25.

The Godolphin trainer reflected on the victory: “These are very hard races to win on Dubai World Cup night but Thunder Snow is a true champion. When he won his G1, it gave us the confidence that he was going to be something special for the future.

“I didn’t want to put real pressure on him and run him in many races because I wanted to save him for the future. We gave him a break after the UAE 2000 Guineas and we prepared him for this race and he was absolutely brilliant in his last piece of work five days ago.

“That gave us the confidence that he was going to have a great chance to win this race. I know this trip was new for him but I had confidence in the jockey knowing the horse really well and that he can sort anything that happens in the race. A furlong out, Thunder Snow looked green but the jockey did a great job.

“I talked to Sheikh Mohammed because Thunder Snow is entered in the Kentucky Derby, the Guineas in England, Ireland and France, and even the Epsom Derby. We will keep the options open and will speak with Sheikh Mohammed again and make a decision soon.

“I would like to see how Thunder Snow is in a few days before Sheikh Mohammed makes a decision. He is a nice horse, who is always improving, and a big, strong horse. You saw tonight that he is also something for the future.

“In our country, everybody wants to see Godolphin win the big races. To have a horse in the stable like Thunder Snow, then you have something good and the confidence to come here and win a big race.”

Thunder Snow’s jockey Christophe Soumillon added: “I was very confident before the race, even with that wide draw because I know that Thunder Snow has got good speed and he has won over seven furlongs. He jumped out quite well - he was a bit nervous before the race and was quite awake.

“Unfortunately, I came into the straight with a lot of power and thought that I would win very easily but he was looking around a bit and got scared by the marks on the ground. He changed legs and shifted out for a few strides, so I was out of the saddle for a few strides.

“Then I got back on him and I thought that I would have the time to come back because he is a champion with a big, big heart. I rode him until the line and he gave me everything again.

“I always said to Saeed that this horse is a true champion. When I rode him at Saint-Cloud, he gave me a great sensation and that’s why I wasn’t worried about the dirt out here. Good horses can always come out of trouble and that is what he did today.”