Thunder Snow returns in UAE 2000 Guineas
G1 winner Thunder Snow, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and partnered again by Christophe Soumillon, switches to dirt for his seasonal return in the 11-runner G3 UAE 2000 Guineas (20.50hrs) over a mile at Meydan, UAE, on Saturday, February 11.
The three-year-old Helmet colt ended 2016 as the top British-based juvenile following a progressive turf campaign that culminated with a five-length victory in the G1 Criterium International over seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud, France, at the end of October.
He is joined by Fly At Dawn and G1 Criterium De Saint Cloud runner-up Best Solution, who were first and fourth respectively in the seven-furlong UAE 2000 Guineas Trial at Meydan on January 26, plus Capezzano, a seven-furlong dirt maiden winner at the course on December 29.
Saeed bin Suroor commented: “This will be Thunder Snow’s first appearance since winning a G1 in France at the end of last season and I have been pleased with his preparation out in Dubai.
“His latest piece of work on Monday went very well. It will be his first run on the dirt, so we will need to see how he copes with it.
“He is improving all of the time and is 85 per cent ready to go on his first start of the year.
“Best Solution was runner-up in a G1 over 10 furlongs last year and I think the seven furlongs of the trial was too sharp for him. This distance will be better for him.”
Charlie Appleby, responsible for Fly At Dawn and Capezzano, reported: “Fly At Dawn goes into the UAE 2000 Guineas with plenty of experience at Meydan following two runs on the dirt there.
“He put up a good performance and picked up well in the trial, while the step back up to a mile is going to suit him.
“The form of the maiden that Capezzano won has worked out well and before that he was runner-up to Cosmo Charlie, who was second in the trial.
“A step up in trip will also suit. He will be one of the least experienced horses in the race but has been progressing nicely and this will hopefully be a stepping stone to going further with him.”
Elsewhere on Saturday’s Dubai World Cup Carnival fixture, Confrontation, with Jim Crowley in the saddle, bids to win the G3 Firebreak Stakes (19.40hrs), also over a mile on dirt, for a second successive year.
The seven-year-old, who has transferred from Kiaran McLaughlin to Saeed bin Suroor, gained a comfortable two-length success 12 months ago and came home sixth on his only subsequent start in the six-furlong G1 Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night.
Saeed bin Suroor said “Confrontation won this race last year and, while he has been doing well at home, I expect him to improve for the run.”
Log Out Island and Steady Pace, both second at G2 level in the UK, line up in the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort And Spa Handicap (20.15hrs) over six furlongs on turf.
Acolyte, a turf handicap winner already at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival, makes his dirt debut in the six-furlong the Track Meydan Golf Handicap (19.05hrs), with Comicas also running in the same race.
French Listed winner Bravo Zolo, Turkish G2 second Silent Attack and Tumbaga, who returned from a long absence to finish sixth in a mile dirt handicap on January 26, go on turf in the Zabeel Feedmill Handicap over a mile (21.25hrs).
The four Godolphin runners in the closing The Meydan Hotel Handicap (22.00hrs) over 12 furlongs on turf are Viren’s Army, Kidmenever and Fog Of War plus recent course and distance runner-up Prize Money.
fonte : Godolphin
Bin Suroor aims for sixth UAE 2,000 Guineas with Snow
UAE 2,000 Guineas Sponsored By District One Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City (Group 3) | Dirt | 1m, 3yo | ATR/RUK
A Group One winner without a penalty, Godolphin’s Thunder Snow looks the one to beat in the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas on Saturday evening as his trainer Saeed bin Suroor attempts to win the race, first contested in 2000, for the sixth time.
His first winner of the race, Bachir, who won the inaugural running, went on to win both the French and Irish 2000 Guineas, while the following year’s winner, Street Cry, landed the 2002 Dubai World Cup.
A winner on debut in a 6f maiden at Leicester, Thunder Snow, a son of Helmet, was beaten but far from disgraced in four subsequent outings, including a close fourth in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.
He was then sent to France and destroyed eight rivals in the 7f Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, who is back in the saddle on Saturday.
Bin Suroor said: “We’ve been very pleased with his work since arriving in Dubai and expect a big run after a good piece of work on Monday. Obviously he needs to prove himself on the surface but we think he will handle it.”
The trainer also saddles Best Solution, the mount of Adrie de Vries, who finished fourth in the 7f trial two weeks ago.
Bin Suroor said: “He was a Group One second over 1m2f late last year and the trip was just too sharp for him in the trial so the extra furlong will help.”
That trial was won by another Godolphin horse, the Charlie Appleby-trained Fly At Dawn, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, leading close home to deny the reappearing Cosmo Charlie.
Stable jockey William Buick takes over and Appleby, who also saddles 7f course maiden winner Capezzano, who will be ridden by Barzalona, said: “Both of mine are proven on the surface and have won here over seven furlongs. The extra furlong should suit both and we appear to have two nice chances.”
Doug Watson trains Cosmo Charlie, who defeated Cappezzano in a 7f course maiden from Capezzano before finishing second to Fly At Dawn.
Watson said: “That was a great run and he seems to be progressing. It is a very tough race but he’s in great form.”
Last year’s Group 3 Firebreak Stakes, also over a mile on dirt, was won by Godolphin’s Confrontation and he is back to defend his crown (3.40), albeit for a different trainer.
Saddled last year by Kiaran McLaughlin, he has now joined Saeed bin Suroor, who said: “Obviously conditions suit him as he showed last year. He has not run since March so should improve for the outing, but he has been pleasing us in his work and should be thereabouts.”
South African trainer Mike de Kock saddles Lindo Amor, who has the plum draw in stall one but needs to bounce back after a flat effort nine days ago in the Group 2 second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge.
Watson’s Desert Force tackles the trip for the first time, having found six furlongs too sharp last time, but it could be trainer Satish Seemar who provides the main dangers to Confrontation.
He saddles both Surfer, off the track for 401 days but winner of the course and distance Group 2 first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge in 2015, and the progressive North America.
Winner of all three local starts, each time over course and distance, the latter is the choice of stable jockey Richard Mullen.
fonte : RacingPost
Meydan: Sabato si rivede Dylan Mouth in handicap sui 2400! Poi le 2000 Ghinee UAE e le Firebreak Stakes per milers
