Last seen when winning the G1 Criterium International by five lengths at Saint-Cloud in October, Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) returned to action in similarly emphatic form when kickstarting his Classic season with a facile victory in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas.
Held four deep from a wide draw, Thunder Snow was urged to the front by Christophe Soumillon with half a mile left to run and shook off a determined challenge from the twice-raced maiden Bee Jersey (Jersey Town) three furlongs from home, gradually powering clear of his main rival to score by 5 3/4 lengths. Fellow Godolphin raider Cappezzano (Bernardini), who had been in the vanguard in the early stages, plugged on for third and Qatar Man (Ire) (Archarcharch) made some headway after being dropped out from the gate to take fourth. As has become a feature of racing on the relatively new dirt track at Meydan, the field was heavily strung out, with 43 lengths separating the winner and the last horse home.
“He impressed me when I won on him in France and that was very testing ground, so I thought he would cope with the dirt here and he has,” said Soumillon. “I was able to get a good position so we have avoided any kickback but, basically, that was easy. I was always very happy and he did it very well. He should stay further if connections want to go for the UAE Derby, but he will be a very nice horse back in Europe.”
Thunder Snow did little wrong in his debut season for Saeed Bin Suroor, winning on debut at Leicester over six furlongs before leaping straight into pattern company and finishing sixth in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. He was subsequently second to War Decree (War Front) in the G2 Qatar Vintage S. and beaten a head by Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) when runner-up again in the G2 Champagne S. His fourth-place finish, just two lengths behind Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), in the G1 Dubai Dewhurst S. was posted three weeks before his triumphant seasonal swansong in Paris.
Pedigree Notes…
The first Group 1 winner from the first crop of his Australian Classic-winning sire Helmet (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Thunder Snow is a Darley homebred from the Dubai Destination mare Eastern Joy (GB), a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane winner West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian). Though unsuccessful in her sole racecourse appearance, Eastern Joy, out of a winning half-sister to Godolphin's 1994 G1 Oaks winner Balanchine (Storm Bird) has continued to prove her worth at stud from the outset. Her first foal Ihtimal (Ire) (Shamardal) won three group races, including the G2 May Hill S. and G3 UAE Oaks, and finished third in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Always Smile (Ire), her daughter by Cape Cross (Ire), is a listed winner and was narrowly beaten by Alice Springs (Ire) in last season's G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S., while First Victory (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), now four, won the G3 Oh So Sharp S. in 2015. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
UAE 2000 GUINEAS (SPONSORED BY DISTRICT ONE MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM CITY)-G3, $250,000, MEY, 2-11, NH3yo & SH3yo, 1600m, 1:38.48, ft.
1–THUNDER SNOW (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Helmet (Aus)
1st Dam: Eastern Joy (GB), by Dubai Destination
2nd Dam: Red Slippers, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Morning Devotion, by Affirmed
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Christophe
Soumillon. $150,000. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Eng, G1SW-Fr,
7-3-2-0, $427,692. *1/2 to Ihtimal (Ire) (Shamardal), MGSW &
MG1SP-Eng, GSW-UAE, $554,857; Always Smile (Ire) (Cape
Cross {Ire}), SW & MG1SP-Eng, $217,288; and First Victory (Ire)
(Teofilo {Ire}), GSW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bee Jersey, 126, c, 3, Jersey Town–Bees, by Rahy. ($250,000
Ylg '15 KEESEP). O/B-Charles E Fipke (KY); T-Doug Watson.
$50,000.
3–Capezzano, 126, c, 3, Bernardini–Cableknit, by Unbridled's
Song. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (KY); T-Charlie Appleby. $25,000.
Margins: 5 3/4, 3 3/4, 1HF.
Also Ran: Qatar Man (Ire), Han Sense, Cosmo Charlie, Victor Kalejs, Best Solution (Ire), Silent Assassin (Ire). Scratched: Grey Britain (GB), Fly At Dawn.
Click for the Racing Post chart or the ERA Video.
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