Thunder Snow To Debut In Gr.3 Al Maktoum Challenge R3
Godolphin’s Gr.1 Dubai World Cup champion Thunder Snow is all set to make his 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival debut, headlining Super Saturday’s main feature the Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3.
The son of Helmet appeared to have his head in the game on Tuesday morning when making a rare appearance at Meydan track work. Based at Godolphin’s Al Quoz training center a five-minute drive away, the bay was joined by five others members of the ‘blue army’ and was full of himself while galloping two laps with recent Carnival winner Major Partnership and Very Talented, who lines up in Thursday’s $160,000 Curlin Handicap. Retired six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon, who turned 53 this week, was in the saddle as the 2017 Gr.2 UAE Derby and Gr.3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner distanced himself from his yard-mates on the second lap after tracking them on the first. Many high-profile connections were there to see the spirited routine move.
A horse who could possibly challenge the multi-surface Group 1 winner in the 2000m race is His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Muntazah, who is trained by Doug Watson and carries the dark blue and white of Shadwell.
One who has been trading blows with Cosmo Charlie the last two times they met is Hamdan Sultan Ali Alsabousi’s New Trails, who is also pointing toward Round 3 in what will be just his eighth-lifetime start. The 5-year-old half-brother to Grade 2 winner Tizaqueena has been filling trainer Ahmad bin Harmash with confidence.
Meanwhile, JRA official has reported that KT Brave is pointing to the Dubai World Cup for owner Kazuyoshi Takimoto. Trained by Haruki Sugiyama, the chestnut 6-year-old exits a pair of placings in the 2100m Kawasaki Kinen (L) and Gr.1 Tokyo Daishoten. This fall, he won both the JBC Classic (L) and Nippon TV Hai (Listed) over Group 1 winners Omega Perfume and Apollo Kentucky.
Curated from Press Release by ERA