The Dubai World Cup meeting celebrates its historic 25th anniversary on Saturday with six Gr1 races and three Gr2s, including one of the world’s premier races, the $12 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Thunder Snow wins the Dubai World Cup in 2018 for Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor, under a smart ride from Christophe Soumillon (Pic- Dubai Racing Club)
Today, we rewind to 2018 when Thunder Snow pulled off the first of two Dubai World Cup titles for Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
Local hero Thunder Snow brought the Gr1 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline home in style for Godolphin at the 2018 running of the world’s richest race. After the dramatic win from Bob-Baffert’s Arrogate a year earlier, Thunder Snow had a hard act to follow, but did so with aplomb, setting a new track record and dismantling some serious competition.
Left in his wake were champion West Coast, Breeders’ Cup winners Talismanic and Forever Unbridled, as well as Gr1 winners Mubtaahij, North America, Pavel, Awardee and Furia Cruzada.
With a string of compelling runs, highlighted by victory in the Gr1 Prix Jean Prat, Thunder Snow made amends for the inexplicable antics displayed in the 143rd Kentucky Derby, which had garnered plenty of media attention. In the end, it was the 5¾-length win margin in the Dubai World Cup, followed by an elated His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum celebrating on stage, that earned him a glittering new reputation.
The Saeed bin Suroor trainee overcame his unenviable outside draw (of 10) via a perfectly timed rail run by star jockey Christophe Soumillon, to carve out his spot in history. “He jumped so well that I thought I would have to make it,” Soumillon said. “When I came into the straight, I could feel nobody was following me. It’s magic. I work hard every day to make sure someday something (great) like this will happen.”
The victory, in what was the 23rd edition of the Dubai World Cup, provided dual Prix De L’arc de Triomphe-winning rider Soumillon with an inaugural victory in the race, courtesy of one of the finest rides of the year. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor also stamped his authority on the Dubai World Cup by extending his lead at the top of the trainer’s list, winning trophy number eight.
“I am very happy with the horse and jockey,” an elated bin Suroor said. “I told Christophe the horse has a good turn of foot and I told him to use it. The jockey is the best of the best. When I saw he was confident in front, I thought surely the horse was going to win from then. We have the best owner in Sheikh Mohammed. He is the best leader and gives us the best horses.
Watch Thunder Snow win the 2018 Dubai World Cup:
