Trainer David Menuisier expects Thundering Blue (Exchange Rate) to head off on his travels again later this year as the popular grey bids to build on a breakthrough campaign in 2018. The 6-year-old made a swift ascent through the ranks after winning a York handicap last May off a mark of 93, ending the year on a perch of 118 after securing Group 2 and 3 glory, as well as finishing third in the G1 Juddmonte International and second in the GI Canadian International at Woodbine. Thundering Blue rounded off his season by finishing down the field on firm ground in the G1 Japan Cup, but Menuisier reports the Exchange Rate gelding to have thrived for a winter break and further overseas travel is likely to be on the agenda.
He said, “I'm very pleased with him, he's wintered really well. The plans are still very much up in the air for him this year, but I think we might try to stay local in the first part of the year and then look overseas later in the season. Woodbine is a possibility again and we could look at something like the [GI] Arlington Million. I might take him to Sandown at the end of April for the [G3] Gordon Richards [S.] for his reappearance, that could be a good possible option for him, but we need to speak with his owner, so we will see. I was also going to give him an entry in the [G1] Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh–there are a number of options for him.”
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