Two-Time Dubai World Cup Winner Thunder Snow Retired

Godolphin's homebred Thunder Snow, the first horse ever to win back-to-back Dubai World Cups and a group 1 winner at 2, 3, 4, and 5, has been retired from racing, it was announced Nov. 5.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Thunder Snow romped in the 2018 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) and drew off by 5 1/4 lengths in the $10 million event. He returned this year to gut out a nose victory over Gronkowski for the historic repeat.

"Thunder Snow created history by winning the Dubai World Cup twice and provided us with two brilliant results in France, capturing the Criterium International (G1) and the Prix Jean Prat (G1)," bin Suroor said. "He ran great races on dirt and turf at some of the world's top meetings and was a superstar for us.

"He was a class horse who was very professional and easy to train. He was extremely tough and always tried his hardest in everything he did. He was one of the best horses to ever race for Godolphin, and it was a privilege to train him.

"We will all miss him at Godolphin Stables, but he retires at the top and we can look forward to seeing his progeny. I am sure that he will become a top stallion over the coming years."

The son of Helmet was a debut winner in May of his 2-year-old season and added black type to his record when second in the Qatar Vintage Stakes (G2) at Goodwood before finishing a creditable fourth in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (G1).

Lining up in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud in October that year, Thunder Snow produced a devastating turn of foot two furlongs out to skip clear of his rivals and win by a full five lengths. That win was enough to see him rated the best 2-year-old colt in France that year.

Thunder Snow returned at 3 in Dubai to reel off wins in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Sponsored by District One Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City (G3) and the UAE Derby Sponsored by the Saeed and Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) before contesting the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Later that summer, he posted one of his most brilliant performances with a win in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

Back at 4, Thunder Snow won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Sponsored by Gulf News (G2) at Meydan before his first Dubai World Cup victory. He made another trip to the United States for the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park and was caught late by longshot Discreet Lover, who finished a neck in front. Thunder Snow followed that performance with a third-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) back at Churchill Downs.

Thunder Snow was retired from racing with an 8-7-4 record from 24 starts and more than $16.5 million in earnings. Stud plans will be announced shortly.