Thunder Snow to Darley Japan
Godolphin homebred Thunder Snow, the only two-time winner of the Dubai World Cup, will begin his stallion career at the international operation’s Darley in Japan.
Thunder Snow retired with more than $16.5 million in earnings, thanks largely to his two scores in the Dubai World Cup. He rolled by 5 3/4 lengths over 3-year-old champion West Coast in 2018, and a year later defeated classic-placed Gronkowski by a nose.
Thunder Snow, a son of Helmet, also was a multiple Group 1 winner in France and was Group 1-placed in England, Ireland, and the United States. His exploits in the United States included a runner-up effort in the 2018 Jockey Club Gold Cup, beaten a neck; a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic; and, in his career finale, a third in this year’s Metropolitan Handicap to Mitole and McKinzie. Thunder Snow also is infamous in the United States for his trip in the 2017 Kentucky Derby, when he bucked leaving the starting gate and was pulled up.
“We are enormously excited for many reasons that Thunder Snow is coming to Japan,” said Harry Sweeney, president of Darley Japan, listing off reasons why Darley leadership placed the stallion prospect there as opposed to its European or American stud farms. “In Japan, entry into the classics is largely based on racetrack earnings, and Thunder Snow being a Group 1 winner on turf as a 2-year-old will impress breeders. Furthermore, he was very consistent and won a Group 1 at 2, 3, 4, and 5, another trait valued in Japan. And in Japan, 50 percent of races are actually on dirt, so Thunder Snow’s prowess on that surface in addition to turf is another great advantage. He ticks many boxes, indeed.”