DUBAI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Despite an unadvantageous draw as on position 10, Thunder Snow, ridden by Belgian race jockey Christophe Soumillon, the four-year old thoroughbred managed to bash through the dense pack of rivals and first crossed the finishing line of the 2,000 meters long dirt track with a time of two minutes and 1.38 seconds, marking a track record.
Thunder Snow, part of the privately owned Godolphin stables owned by United Arab Emirates Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, cashed in six million U. S. dollars, while the second and third ranked West Coast (United States) and Mubtaahij (Ireland) won two million U. S. dollars and one million U. S. dollars, respectively.
Soumillon said after the race, "I never thought I could make it on position ten, but I had a good run. I still cannot realize I was victorious so shortly after the race." His Emirati trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said "Thunder Snow is just an amazing horse. He is pretty stable and when he finds his rhythm he can make a good run."
The ninth race marked the final challenge of the Dubai World Cup 2018 (the 23rd edition) held on Saturday. With 30 million U. S. dollars prize money distributed, it is the richest horse race in the world.
