Bin Suroor has high hopes for Thunder Snow to shine in Deauville

Saeed bin Suroor is “only looking forward” with Thunder Snow as the tough colt seeks the third Group 1 success of his career in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville today.

Only six will go to post for the race but that is one more than Thunder Snow faced when streaking to a second top-level triumph in the Prix Jean Prat last time out.

This weekend will mark the 13th outing of the Godolphin three year old’s career as he has competed in Dubai, America and Ireland, as well as France, this year.

“We know he handles soft ground. He won a Group 1 last season on it,” Bin Suroor said. “He’s come back from his last run very well and seems fresh.

“He’s in good form and his last piece of work was very good indeed.”

Bin Suroor said Thunder Snow’s ability to perform in different enviroments is a reason to be confident today.

“Obviously he won a Group 1 in France last time out, but this race looks even tougher,” the trainer said.

“The quality looks really high, but I’m very happy with him. He’s such a tough horse and he loves all the travelling.

“He won twice out in Dubai, he went to America, he ran in the Irish Guineas and then ran in France last time.”

Thunder Snow did make the headlines for the wrong reasons in the United States when refusing to race in the Kentucky Derby in May.

But there has been no sign of a repeat of that incident since then. Though Bin Suroor remains unsure as to what the issue was that day, he does not believe it will happen again.

“Who knows what happened at Churchill Downs,” he said. “He was well before and after the race and has never done anything like that since. It is one of those things no one will ever know.

“That is all behind him now, though, and we’re only looking forward with him.”