In a brilliant result for the Victorian industry, Thunder Snow provided Swettenham Stud’s stallion Trust In A Gust with another substantial pedigree update when he made history at Meydan winning the Dubai World Cup for the second consecutive time.
Thunder Snow successfully claimed the 2000 metre feature in the hands of superstar jockey Christophe Soumillon for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
The Godolphin representative is a grandson of Nureyev mare Red Slippers (USA), who is a half-sister to the dam of Trust In A Gust, Subtle Breeze.
Both being progeny from the outstanding Affirmed mare Morning Devotion, she has also produced Champion European Three-Year-Old Filly Balanchine, the winner of the Group 1 Irish Derby and the Group 1 English Oaks and multiple group winner Romanov. Red Slippers, a Group 2 winner herself, produced French Group 1 winner West Wind along with Eastern Joy, Thunder Snow’s dam.
This close family connection is a reminder of the depth and quality of Trust In A Gust’s pedigree. Sired by Swettenham’s past resident stallion, Keep The Faith, a son of Japan’s immortal Kentucky Derby-winning sire, Sunday Silence, Trust In A Gust has impeccable breeding on both sides of his lineage.
As a racehorse, Trust in A Gust had two qualities that stood out in his racing career, natural talent, and raw courage, with victories in the stallion making Group 1 MRC Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m and in the time honoured VRC Toorak Handicap over 1600m.
“Trust In A Gust had a tremendous will to win like all good stallions. He’s a fighter, and he’s got an exceptional pedigree.” Sangster noted.
And that will to win was seen in spades as Thunder Snow overcame a wide draw and a fierce battle with Gronkowski in the straight. Able to muster extraordinary reserves in the run to the line Thunder Snow overhauled Gronkowski by a nose.
Trust In A Gust at Swettenham Stud
His ecstatic trainer, Saeed bin Suroor gave credit to both the horse and the jockey.
“He is a such a brave horse. I wasn’t sure if he had won, but we had the best jockey in the world on board, and he knows him so well. He has won the UAE Derby, and now the Dubai World Cup twice on him from wide draws. They are a great team. I think this is my 191st Group 1 winner, but it ranks highly, along with Dubai Millennium’s World Cup in 2000.”
While jockey Christophe Soumillon was thankful to all connections, especially his charge.
“Last year I won by five, six lengths, and today Thunder had to fight hard. I want to say a big thank you to Saeed bin Suroor, and also to HH Sheikh Mohammed. Just before the race they said to me in the paddock, you should have so much confidence to do everything right.”
“Thanks to Thunder Snow, because without him I would not be able to do such things.”
Thunder Snow has now won eight of his 23 career starts with a prize money total of US$16,011,850 with plans now being made for another trip to the US.
“I will have to speak with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, but I would like Thunder Snow to run in America again. Maybe in New York, in Saratoga with the final plan being the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita,” Suroor said.