The horse made history by coming out on top once again
The Dubai World Cup took place at the Meydan Racecourse yesterday and the main event was won by Thunder Snow, who triumphed for the second consecutive year.
Thunder Snow made history by becoming the first horse to win the Dubai World Cup, one of the world’s richest races, more than once by successfully defending the title he won a year ago.
In a thrilling race, jockey Christophe Soumillon guided the horse to victory as he came from third place to win, eventually getting the better of Gronkowski with an impressive late charge.
For trainer Saeed bin Suroor, it was his ninth victory in the race, and he expressed his delight afterwards.
“The Dubai World Cup has been extremely kind to me and to have the pleasure of training a horse like Thunder Snow is something that’s hard to describe,” he said.
“I have always dreamed that he could win one World Cup, but to become the first horse to win two is something I am finding hard to believe.
“He is a fantastic horse and has such a professional approach to everything he does.”
Other winners throughout the day included Cross Counter, who came out on top in the Dubai Gold Cup, Old Persian, who won the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic and Almond Eye, who clinched the Dubai Turf.
There was a AED44 million prize at stake for the Dubai World Cup, with the overall prize fund of the whole event totalling AED128.5 million, meaning the winners will surely have been particularly generous at the post-race bar.
Once the sporting action was complete, race-goers were able to enjoy a concert headlined by American singer Gwen Stefani who performed some of her biggest hits.