After a 2018 season that saw Godolphin's Thunder Snow make his first start in January and his final start in early November—earning a placing in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)—trainer Saeed bin Suroor has opted to ease the multiple group 1 winner into 2019.
But the top goal hasn't changed, as Thunder Snow will attempt to defend his 2018 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) win this spring. The plan is to debut in early March ahead of the Dubai World Cup in late March as he tries to add to his four group wins at Meydan.
"Thunder Snow has had an easy time so far and is doing well; happy to be back in Dubai," Bin Suroor said. "Hopefully we can get him ready and run on Super Saturday in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (G1) on Super Saturday (March 9). He had a hard season and a hard race in the Breeders' Cup Classic. That's why I gave him and Benbatl an easy time and we will get them ready for the season. I'm not going to rush them."
Bin Suroor also confirmed that a second half of the season similar to 2018 could be in order for Thunder Snow, by Helmet, with a focus on American grade 1 races in the summer and fall.
Bin Suroor also is preparing Godolphin's Benbatl, a group 1 winner on three continents, for his 2019 debut. Last year Benbatl won the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) and will aim to defend that title.
"Benbatl has also had an easy time and is doing very good," he continued. "Hopefully, like Thunder Snow, he will point to Super Saturday. He's in training now and the (group 1 Jebel Hatta) is the prep for him and then the Dubai Turf. Then we will go to Europe with him."
Like Thunder Snow, Benbatl was last seen facing some of the best horses in the world, but on the opposite side of the world. While Thunder Snow finished third in the Breeders Cup Classic behind Accelerate , Benbatl was a game second to Winx in the William Hill Cox Plate (G1) in Australia. Just two weeks prior to that effort, he won the Oct. 13 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (G1).
"We had a very good Carnival and season last year, but we hope it is even better this year," Bin Suroor said. "That is the goal."