Thunder Snow lands Dubai World Cup

SHEIK Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the much loved ruler of Dubai, delighted the crowds on Saturday by dancing a jig on the winner’s podium after Godolphin had completed a memorable night by winning the US$10 million Dubai World Cup with Thunder Snow, brilliantly ridden by Christophe Soumillon.

Thunder Snow caused a sensation of a different kind at the Kentucky Derby last year by refusing to race.

So when Christophe Soumillon, having led from the off, forged clear in the straight on Saturday still travelling smoothly he didn’t assume victory.

He had in mind the colt’s quirks and hoped he wasn’t going to look up at the screen and lose concentration as he had in last year’s UAE Derby.

However, this time there were no antics and Thunder Snow galloped to the line a decisive 5,75 length winner from the hot favourite West Coast, who had come into the race being touted as America’s best dirt horse.

The former Mike de Kock-trained Mubtaahij, now a Bob Baffert-trained stablemate to West Coast, finished a narrow third.

It was Soumillon’s ninth attempt to win this big race and he finally has a treasured golden whip to add to his trophy cabinet, which includes the majority of the world’s major races.

Soumillon

It was an amazing eighth World Cup win for record-holding trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.

Soumillon’s hopes had been dampened when drawing ten of ten.

Bin Suroor had wanted him to stay out of the kickback and Soumillon knew being in front would be his best option.

Even a little girl from the Royal family knew the same and advised him in the parade ring before the race, “The track here is small.

If you go in front, normally you are going to win.”

Soumillon was surprised to reach the front easily and then to not be put under any pressure down the back straight.

He was glad nobody attempted to come up his inside in the straight as the Irish-bred colt by Helmet (Aus) had changed legs perfectly and was travelling smoothly.

“I didn’t feel any pressure at any point during the race.” said the 36 yearold.

Benbatl

Bin Suroor also won a sixth US$6 million Dubai Turf with the Godolhpinowned Benbatl, who won in commanding style under Oisin Murphy.

Earlier, trainer Charlie Appleby had scored a Group 1 double for Godolphin, winning the US$1 million Al Quoz Sprint with Jungle Cat under James Doyle and the US$6 million Dubai Sheema Classic with the Godolphinowned Hawkbill ridden by William Buick.

Soumillon summed up the prestige of the meeting by saying, “When I was in the Jockeys Academy I was looking at these races and was screaming and crying when Cigar won [the first ever Dubai World Cup race in 1996].

“Today I won and it is fantastic.”