Godolphin Plans to Again Race Thunder Snow in U.S.

Already a top-level winner on two continents, Godolphin Racing’s Thunder Snow will get another try at top-level United States racing this summer and fall should all go to plan.

While all focus currently is on the March 30 Dubai World Cup Presented by Emirates Airline (G1), where Thunder Snow could become the first horse to win that race twice, trainer Saeed bin Suroor said plans for later this year call for the 5-year-old son of Helmet to race in New York in the summer and again in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park this fall.

Last year, Thunder Snow finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs after challenging for the lead in deep stretch. That effort followed a runner-up finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. This year, the plan is to arrive in the U.S. earlier for the Saratoga Race Course meeting.

“The plan after the World Cup will be to take him to America and find a race for him in New York at Saratoga and, later, after we see what he does, (the Breeders’ Cup Classic) at Santa Anita," bin Suroor said. "We’re going to try in America this year; this is my goal to see him win a (grade) 1 there.”

A return this season would mark the third straight year Thunder Snow has raced in the U.S., a stretch that started with a short day in Louisville for the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) when he was pulled up right after the break while bucking.

Besides his Dubai World Cup win, Thunder Snow has registered two group 1 wins on turf in France. At 2, Thunder Snow won the Criterium International (G1), and at 3 he took the Prix Jean Prat (G1).