Thundering Blue supplemented for Juddmonte International at cost of £75,000
Owner Clive Washbourn has supplemented Thundering Blue for Wednesday's Juddmonte International Stakes at York at a cost of £75,000 and is looking forward to seeing how his much-improved grey fares against stars such as Poet's Word, Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior.
Juddmonte International card and betting
Trainer David Menuisier is realistic about the five-year-old's prospects in such exalted company, and bookmakers have dismissed him as a 33-1 chance. However, Washbourn has been keen on the idea from the moment Thundering Blue beat Brorocco and Elarqam in last month's Group 2 York Stakes and Menuisier has now been won over entirely.
Menuisier, who received plenty of advice on twitter when asking on Wednesday whether Thundering Blue should be supplemented, said: "You can call me crazy, but from a sporting point of view I don't think we have anything to lose. He's won a Group 2 over the course and distance, and although it's a major step up he's in great shape and I really do feel it's the right thing to do.
"Some people might think it was a fluke [winning at York] but I thought he did something special that day and I know that he'll run a cracker, win or lose."
Menuisier, who is enjoying easily his best season and has seen his Vintager earn a highly profitable sale to Godolphin, added: "I don't expect anyone to lose any sleep over my comments, but he's in great form and deserves to be in the line-up. It's a lot of money, but Clive was always keen.
"Financially it might not be the right move, because I cannot guarantee Clive will get his money back. On the other hand, I can't say that he won't.
"Can he do it in a Group 1? I don't know. The only one who knows is the horse, and he's not letting on, but I'll have my fingers crossed. And my toes as well!"
Big-race contenders
Eleven horses remain in the reckoning for the £1 million contest – Thundering Blue would need to finish third or better to cover the costs of supplementing him – after Thursday's forfeit stage.
Addeybb, Benbatl, Cracksman, Thunder Snow, Latrobe, Without Parole and Magical are other contenders, with the market headed by Poet's Word at 2-1.
Irish Derby winner Latrobe is also among the 16 remaining in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur, but his trainer Joseph O'Brien said: "We left him in the Great Voltigeur to give us an option but it's more than likely we will stick to the original plan and run him in the Juddmonte International.
"We'll see how he gets on over the shorter trip and it will help us decide on plans for later in the season."
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Published on 16 August 2018inNews
Last updated 16:54, 16 August 2018
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