In the aftermath of Arrogate's magnificent performance in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), Thunder Snow's thrilling win in the UAE Derby (UAE-G2) has all but been forgotten. It shouldn't be. Not only was it a top-class effort in its own right, but it revealed a colt who may be in a position to make history.
It is no secret that Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai has long harbored the ambition of winning the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), but so far, American racing's holy grail has eluded him. Whether Thunder Snow can do what no Godolphin runner has done before is still to be determined, but this is a horse who would have to be considered a live shot if he can maintain his form. In the UAE Derby, he displayed the early foot needed in American racing to secure a good traveling position, answered with unflinching courage when asked in a long stretch drive and had the stamina to run down a quality rival who was running a bang-up race on his own account and had the shorter inside route all the way around.
Drawing a line through third-place Master Plan, who was second by a length to impressive Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (USA-G2) winner Tapwrit in last December's Pulpit Stakes, would suggest that both Thunder Snow and his barely-defeated rival Epicharis would fit right up with the first flight of this year's jumbled American sophomore males, and these is no question that both can stay the Derby distance. If both come to contest the Run for the Roses, they will add an intriguing international angle to one of the most unpredictable Derbies of recent years.
It is no secret that Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai has long harbored the ambition of winning the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), but so far, American racing's holy grail has eluded him. Whether Thunder Snow can do what no Godolphin runner has done before is still to be determined, but this is a horse who would have to be considered a live shot if he can maintain his form. In the UAE Derby, he displayed the early foot needed in American racing to secure a good traveling position, answered with unflinching courage when asked in a long stretch drive and had the stamina to run down a quality rival who was running a bang-up race on his own account and had the shorter inside route all the way around.
Drawing a line through third-place Master Plan, who was second by a length to impressive Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (USA-G2) winner Tapwrit in last December's Pulpit Stakes, would suggest that both Thunder Snow and his barely-defeated rival Epicharis would fit right up with the first flight of this year's jumbled American sophomore males, and these is no question that both can stay the Derby distance. If both come to contest the Run for the Roses, they will add an intriguing international angle to one of the most unpredictable Derbies of recent years.
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