Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) was unbeaten in two outings at last year's Dubai carnival before capturing France's G1 Prix Jean Prat, and the two-time Group 1 winner looks to get back on track in Thursday's G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 after finishing second to Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in Round 1 on Jan. 11. Thunder Snow steps beyond a mile for the first time since he won last year's G2 UAE Derby, returning to that same track and trip, and is more certain to get the trip than Heavy Metal, who enjoyed the lead on the speed-favouring track in Round 1 before drawing off to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Heavy Metal, twice Thunder Snow's age at eight, has raced beyond a mile just twice, both off the board efforts in Britain back in 2014.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said of Thunder Snow, “Thunder Snow has been doing well since his return in the first round and the step up in trip will suit. He is in good form, has been working well and is ready to go. We have a good record in this race and have won it with some very good horses.”
Last year's winner Furia Cruzada (Chi) (Newfoundland) returns in search of her first win since, when she bested the eventual G2 Godolphin Mile winner Second Summer (Summer Bird) by a nose.
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