Thunder Snow ready for Breeders’ Cup

Saeed bin Suroor is looking to Thunder Snow to continue his recent run of Group One wins in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

The Godolphin trainer has been in fine form on a worldwide scale with Royal Meeting landing a French Group One victory on Sunday while both Best Solution and Benbatl have struck at the highest level in Australia in recent weeks.

Best Solution will run in the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday.

Thunder Snow was an impressive winner of the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March but finished last in the Juddmonte International won by Roaring Lion at York before finishing second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in his two prep runs.

He had a spin around the Kentucky track on Monday morning and Bin Suroor is anticipating a bold showing for the Godolphin team.

“I’ve always liked the qualities of this horse,” he said.

“He has a good turn of foot which you need in the race. He’s always been a very sound horse, healthy and happy. He gives you everything and he has a big heart. These are the things I like about him.

“Sheikh Mohammed thought the best course was to give him a break and then get him ready for this.

“He lost two shoes in the Juddmonte, but came back well to run a very good race at Belmont.

Connections will be hoping he fares better than the last time he ran at Churchill Downs in the 2017 Kentucky Derby when he pulled up after leaving the gates.

Other British contenders at the meeting, Roaring Lion and Enable, also had light gallops on the track.