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Thunder Snow ready to rumble in Al Maktoum Challenge

Thunder Snow with Saeed Bin Suroor: the colt represents in the Maktoum Challenge
Thunder Snow with Saeed Bin Suroor: the colt represents in the Maktoum ChallengeCredit: David Milnes

4.50 Meydan
Al Maktoum Challenge R2 | Group 2 | 1m1½f dirt | 3yo+ | RUK

Saeed Bin Suroor has saddled the winner of this race – first run in 1994 – on ten previous occasions, including a pair of subsequent Dubai World Cup winners, and he saddles Thunder Snow.

Prince Bishop, who won the Dubai World Cup in 2015, was successful in this race in 2014, beating stablemate African Story, who claimed the carnival highlight that year. Moon Ballad was Bin Suroor's other winner to complete the double, winning both races in 2003.

This year Bin Suroor relies on Thunder Snow, winner of the UAE 2,000 Guineas and Derby last year and a dual Group 1 scorer in Europe, once as a juvenile and again last year.

The four-year-old appeared outpaced on his seasonal return when runner-up in the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge over a mile, and the trainer said: "We were pleased with Thunder Snow’s return when he certainly suggested returning to this longer trip will be in his favour.

"He has been working very well and seems in great form so hopefully he can add to our great record in this race."

Heavy Metal (Salem Bin Ghadayer/Mickael Barzalona) defeated Thunder Snow in the first round, and is among the opposition, but over a trip for which he needs to prove his stamina.

Best Of The Bests (2001-02) and Jack Sullivan (2005-06) were able to defend their Al Maktoum Challenge R2 crowns, something last year's winner Furia Cruzada will be hoping to emulate.

Trained, when in the UAE, by Erwan Charpy, she made a winning local debut in this race last year, narrowly denying Second Summer, also on his first UAE start, for Doug Watson.

Charpy’s mare ended her 2017 Meydan campaign when well beaten in the World Cup, on the same evening Second Summer won the Godolphin Mile.


Rest of the card

The main support race, also on dirt, is the 6f Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint (3.40) which has attracted a top cast, including two previous winners of the Group 1 Golden Shaheen on World Cup night.

However, the pair in question, Muarrab and Reynaldothewizard, were only second and third behind Godolphin's Comicas in the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes, over the same course and distance, three weeks ago.

Charlie Appleby trains Comicas, runner-up in the Golden Shaheen last year, and said: "The team were all delighted with Comicas' win in the Dubawi Stakes and he has come out of that race well.

"Pretty much, we are taking on the same horses again but this time we have a penalty. That said, we are delighted with him and he will hopefully be bang thereabouts.”

Bin Suroor is seeking a tenth UAE 1,000 Guineas (2.30) and saddles Winter Lightning, winner of the 7f trial and a half-sister to Thunder Snow.

"She has done well since that win," Bin Suroor said. "Her first on just her second start and she is a lovely filly to deal with; nothing bothers her and she is always really relaxed.

"She should run another big race against some good fillies."

Rayya lost out by a nose to Winter Lightning in that trial, and she re-opposes for Doug Watson.

On turf, the 7f Meydan Classic Trial (5.25) has a full field of 16, including several British-trained runners. Among those is Tangled for Richard Hannon, while De Bruyne Horse, who was with Hannon last season, has his first start for Brendan Powell.

Meydan Thursday card


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Published on 7 February 2018inGrand National festival

Last updated 15:31, 7 February 2018

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