UAE highweight and dual G1 Dubai World Cup hero Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}-Eastern Joy {GB}, by Dubai Destination) has been retired, trainer Saeed Bin Suroor announced on Tuesday. Bred by Darley in Ireland, the Godolphin colourbearer was last seen running third to GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Mitole (Eskendereya) in the GI Metropolitan H. in June. Stud plans are pending.
“Thunder Snow created history by winning the Dubai World Cup twice and provided us with two brilliant results in France, capturing the Criterium International and the Prix Jean Prat,” said bin Suroor. “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.”
A winner of the G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud as a juvenile, the bay took both the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas and G2 UAE Derby in 2017, and participated in the GI Kentucky Derby that May, but did not finish due to bucking soon after the start. Wheeled back in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas later that month, he ran second to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and was third in the G1 St. James's Palace S. a month later. Back on top in Chantilly's G1 Prix Jean Prat, he ran with credit to take third in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois.
In 2018, he took his first Dubai World Cup, as well as the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 and was also runner-up in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3, the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Brought back as a 5-year-old, Thunder Snow was once again second in the G1 Al Maktoum Challeneg Round 3, but gutted out a nose victory over Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) to take his second Dubai World Cup this March, the first horse to repeat in the race. A fever knocked him out of an intended start in the GI Whitney H. this summer and he was removed from Breeders' Cup consideration earlier this fall. He retires with a mark of 24-8-7-4 and earnings of $16,511,476.
Thunder Snow is a half-brother to MGSW & MG1SP Ihtimal (Ire) (Shamardal), SW & MG1SP Always Smile (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), GSW First Victory (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), and SW & MGSP Winter Lightning (Ire) (Shamardal). His second dam, Red Slippers (Nureyev), is also responsible for G1 Prix de Diane heroine West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian) and SW Redbridge (Alleged). European highweight Balanchine (Storm Bird) is a half-sister to Red Slippers.
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