Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed’s horse Thunder Snow defied the odds to win his second Dubai World Cup. The horse previously won the 2018 event, making history as the first horse to win two consecutive Dubai World Cup.
THUNDER SNOW edges out Gronkowski to become the first horse in history to win the Dubai World Cup for a second time
@godolphin @CSoumillon#DubaiWorldCup pic.twitter.com/xdBnCxL2Pd
— Meydan Racing (@MeydanRacing) March 30, 2019
AFP reports, the five-year-old defied a wide draw to give trainer Saeed bin Suroor his ninth success in the feature of the world’s richest raceday. Thunder Snow took part in the final race in the famous Royal Blue colours of Godolphin, the global racing stable created by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“Favourite Capezzano and Gronkowski made the early running ahead of Thunder Snow, but the defending champion stayed on under pressure from jockey Christophe Soumillon to overhaul Gronkowski in the dying strides and win by a nose after a photo finish,” according to AFP.
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
This was the 24th consequtive Dubai World Cup held in the emirate. The first race was held at the now defunct Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in 1996 when it was won by the US horse Cigar, ridden by Jerry Bailey.
“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,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“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,” he noted.
