Godolphin’s Thunder Snow, twice placed in Group 1 company since his Kentucky Derby (G1) fiasco, regained the winning thread in Sunday’s Prix Jean Prat (G1) at Chantilly.
Facing only four rivals in the one-mile affair, the Saeed bin Suroor pupil gained command in the opening strides and never looked back. Gold Luck, the Group 3-winning half-sister to incoming Hall of Famer Goldikova, stalked early, but came under pressure in the stretch while Thunder Snow was still firmly in control.
Hitherto unbeaten Trais Fluors, the 11-10 favorite, rallied gamely from further back. Although he trimmed the winning margin to 1 1/4 lengths, Thunder Snow was gearing down in the hands of Christophe Soumillon. Sent off as the 7-5 second choice, the handy winner negotiated the metric mile on a good turf course in 1:38.78.
Gold Luck checked in the same margin back in third. Next came Turf Laurel and the distanced Lightupthenight, who was hardly in the race at all after being recalcitrant to leave the gate.
Thunder Snow’s prior Group 1 victory had likewise come in France, via the Criterium International (G1) at Saint-Cloud last fall. The son of Australian star Helmet transitioned beautifully to the dirt at Meydan during the Dubai Carnival, hacking up in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) and outdueling Japan’s Epicharis in the UAE Derby (G2). That secured his spot in the Kentucky Derby, where he became a social media sensation for his bucking exhibition coming out of the gate and had to be pulled up.
Returning to Europe, Thunder Snow was back to his usual self when second to Churchill in the May 27 Irish 2000 Guineas (G1) and third to Barney Roy in the June 20 St James’s Palace (G1) at Royal Ascot. There he finally beat Churchill, a lackluster fourth. As a juvenile, Thunder Snow had finished fourth to Churchill in the Dewhurst (G1), and he was also runner-up to War Decree in the Vintage (G2) and to Rivet in the Champagne (G2). His resume now reads 12-5-3-1.
Bin Suroor indicated that Thunder Snow could step up in trip for the about 10 1/2-furlong Juddmonte International (G1) August 23 at York, or seek another French title over a mile in the August 13 Prix Jacques le Marois (G1). His main objective later in the European season may be the Queen Elizabeth II (G1) on Champions Day, October 21, at Ascot.
Soumillon is already looking further down the road, reportedly tabbing him as a Dubai World Cup (G1) horse. We know he likes the track.
