Thunder Snow outfoxes West Coast to claim Dubai World Cup

Jockey Christophe Soumillon gestures as he rides Thunder Snow after winning the Dubai World Cup horse race at the Dubai World Cup in the Meydan Racecourse on March 31, 2018 in Dubai. PHOTO| GIUSEPPE | CACACE | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Godolphin filed a grace of strikers from Hawkbill, Benbati, and, Jungle Cat.
  • Soumillon, who cleared Thunder Snow with five good lengths, was advised by a little girl to simply go to the front, because it is a small track.
  • There was a double too for fellow Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby.

Thunder Snow shook the Dubai World Cup for Newmarket trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, saddling his eighth such winner.

On a sterling night at Meydan, owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team, Thunder Snow (Christoffe Soumillon 8-1) shot into an early lead, while West Coast and Mubtaahji stamped place spots.

Godolphin filed a grace of strikers from Hawkbill, Benbati, and, Jungle Cat.

Soumillon, who cleared Thunder Snow with five good lengths, was advised by a little girl to simply go to the front, because it is a small track. This paid off to the tune of Sh100 million ($10 million).

There was a double too for fellow Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby.

WITHDRAWN

Jungle Cat took an eventful Al Quoz Sprint under James Doyle after stablemate Blue Point was withdrawn at the start when blood was found in his nostrils.

Jockey Christophe Soumillon (centre) raises the trophy for the Dubai World Cup, as he celebrates in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (right), Crown Prince of Dubai, in the Meydan Racecourse on March 31, 2018 in Dubai. PHOTO | GIUSEPPE CACACE| AFP

William Buick triumphed on Hawkbill in the Dubai Sheema Classic, overcoming a scare before the race when the horse's leg was briefly caught in the stalls. Cloth of Stars was way to keen, so his jockey should actually have let him go, rather than struggling to hold back. Hawkbill led from pillar to post.

Mendelssohn,  enhanced his Kentucky Derby claims with an emphatic blast in the UAE Derby ridden by Ryan Moore.

Vazirabad made history with a third successive cropping in the Dubai Gold Cup.

The six-year-old, also partnered by Soumillon for Alain de Royer-Dupre, will now be aimed at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June.