Godolphin’s Thunder Snow wins $12m Dubai World Cup

The Dubai ruling family’s privately owned stable Godolphin’s Thunder Snow won his second consecutive Dubai World Cup yesterday at the Meydan Racecourse.

The five-year-old is the first Godolphin horse to win two consecutive World Cup titles.

Thunder Snow was trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Christophe Soumillon.

Suroor is now the most successful trainer at the Dubai World Cup having secured nine wins here: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014, 2015, 2018 and now 2019.

Nine races were held as part of the 24^th edition of the event yesterday, with total prize money $35m.

Of that, $12m was set aside for the main race in which Thunder Snow claimed victory, with the runner up being Salem bin Ghadayer’s Gronkowski.

Congratulations to Godolphin’s Thunder Snow for winning the Dubai World Cup. Congratulations to the UAE for hosting the world’s fastest and best horse race meeting. pic.twitter.com/2HNSMyKGlr

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) March 30, 2019

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai received the coveted Cup from H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“The source of my happiness is not the precious cup, or the cash prize, but seeing the happiness of the UAE people, the owners, trainers, jockeys and the fans who keep waiting for this special event year after year,” said HH Sheikh Mohammed. There were reportedly 72,000 people who attended the race.

He added, “I love equestrian sports because every day there is something new in this industry. The passion for equestrian and horses runs in my blood and it is part of our Emirati and Arab heritage.”