Thunder Snow steals the show with spellbinding success in Dubai World Cup

It went eerily quiet at a scorching Meydan prior to the start of the 23rd edition of the Dubai World Cup. The place shortly erupted afterwards, as Thunder Snow stormed to victory for home team Godolphin.

Saeed Bin Suroor enhanced his position as all-time leading trainer in the $10,000,000 showstopper with Thunder Snow taking the prize from the red-hot favourite West Coast, recording yet another track record on the night and securing a Group 1 four-timer for Godolphin.

Thunder Snow's scintillating success was a seventh victory in the race for Godolphin with six of those winners trained by Bin Suroor, who has enjoyed eight in all. It was a first for Christophe Soumillon.

Soumillon finished second aboard Mubtaahij two years ago –Mubtaahij finished third to Thunder Snow this time – and, after throwing his goggles to the crowd, explained just why it meant so much to ride the winner of the world-renowned contest.

He said: “I can’t quite believe I’ve just won this amazing race. I was screaming and crying watching horses like Cigar and jockeys such as Jerry Bailey and Frankie Dettori winning this race, so for me to do it is incredible.

“I never thought I’d be able to make the running from that draw but it couldn’t have gone any better.

“He’s a funny horse – he’s very talented but when he doesn’t want to do something there’s nothing you can do about it.

“The track really suits front-runners but, even still, he’s a true champion. He proved it as a two-year-old, a three-year-old and now today he was amazing.”

Thunder Snow landed stall ten and a notable groan from the crowd at Wednesday’s draw ceremony. They should not have worried.

Quick out of the stalls, last year’s Prix Jean Prat winner, who so curiously proved unrideable on the dirt in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs earlier that season, eyeballed West Coast in the early stages.

Soumillon seized the lead by the start of the back straight with West Coast poised to pounce. As soon as Soumillon, the nine-time champion jockey in France, kicked for home on the turn it became clear he was not for catching.

Paddy Power made Thunder Snow a 20-1 shot to land the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on November 3, while Sky Bet eased West Coast to 7-1 (from 4).

Bin Suroor, whose World Cup winners include Dubai Millennium and Street Cry, said: "This horse is brilliant.

“Christophe rode a great race. We spoke beforehand about what to do from the outside draw and he rode him to perfection.

“As soon as he was out the stalls and in a good position, I thought he would go well.”

Gary and Mary West, owners of West Coast, were flanked by family to watch the race and their disappointment was visible. A big run was expected, but he was firmly brushed aside by the winner.

Besides Bin Suroor, Bob Baffert is the only trainer to enjoy more than one winner of the Dubai World Cup. He’s got a little more catching up to do on the Godolphin maestro now.

Baffert, with three triumphs in the race to his name, said of West Coast and Mubtaahij: “Our horses ran well – I knew they would – but we wanted to win. Thunder Snow is clearly a good horse, he just ran them off their feet. I know that feeling.

“When Javier [Castellano] started niggling West Coast on the turn into the straight I knew we were in trouble, while Mubtaahij ran a great race. He kept on really well and is a nice horse. There will be other days.”

Pavel and Forever Unbridled, who now heads to stud, had their own battle for fourth, with the former coming out on top, but all the attention deservedly went the way of the impressive Thunder Snow on a night dominated by the boys in the blue.

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