Thunder Snow ‘beaten by a better horse on the day’ as Churchill wins Irish 2000 Guineas

Thunder Snow, pictured before the Kentucky Derby three weeks ago, finished second to Churchill in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Garry Jones / AP Photo

Churchill could face a twin-pronged attack from Godolphin in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next month after the Coolmore-owned colt added the Irish 2000 Guineas in Ireland on Saturday to his imperious success in the English equivalent three weeks ago.

Churchill was too good for Thunder Snow at the Curragh, and he did just enough under Ryan Moore to hold at arm’s length the Godolphin challenger and Christophe Soumillon to win by a comfortable two and half lengths.

It was Thunder Snow’s first run on turf since October, and considering his antics on dirt in the Kentucky Derby this month and his UAE Derby victory at Meydan in March it was a fine performance in the circumstances. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor knows a good colt when he sees one and despite his admiration for Churchill there is a possibility of a rematch.

“Thunder Snow ran very well,” he said. “He did everything right during the race and was beaten by a better horse on the day.

“We will keep the options open for him, including the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

Godolphin’s Barney Roy, who was second to Churchill at Newmarket three weeks ago, is also being aimed at the race, as is Al Wukair, who was third, but such is Churchill’s ability to produce only what is required there is likely to much more left in the tank.

This was Churchill’s seventh consecutive victory and his fourth at Group 1 level. By beating Thunder Snow, who was ranked Europe’s fourth-best juvenile last season, it was also arguably the best performance of his career.

He will be a formidable opponent next month and Aidan O’Brien was about as animated as the mild-mannered trainer can be in public following a horse race.

“He’s a great horse and we’re delighted with him,” he said. “He sleeps, he relaxes and he quickens. He’s a very exciting horse.

“He’s brave and so versatile. Ground and trip all come alike to him and he has a lovely demeanour. He saves all the petrol, and when you ask him to quicken he quickens.”

Churchill becomes the fourth horse trained by the Irish maestro to complete the Guineas double, following the previous successes of Rock Of Gibraltar (2002), Henrythenavigator (2008) and Gleneagles (2015). The latter two horses both stepped up to 2000 metres at the Breeders’ Cup for the final race of their careers, but Churchill could well cover more ground some time this summer.

“He’d have no problem stepping up to 10 furlongs later in the year,” O’Brien added. “He’s so relaxed and chilled.”

The Irish 2000 Guineas was a key clash between Coolmore and Godolphin just seven days before their massed ranks collide in the Derby at Epsom. O’Brien ruled out Yucatan, the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial runner-up, from 2,400-metre Classic on Saturday and it reduced his hand to six runners, headed by Cliffs Of Moher, the Dee Stakes winner at Chester.

Godolphin could still have three runners in Best Solution and Dubai Thunder, who both worked at Chelmsford Racecourse on Saturday, as well as Benbatl.

It was also revealed on Saturday that Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed’s Permian will be ridden by William Buick.

Buick travelled to Middleham in the north of England to partner the gutsy winner of the Dante Stakes at York ten days ago, in a routine canter at Mark Johnston’s stables.

“He’s in good shape and I was very happy with him,” Buick said. “He’s always been a very neat horse physically, very well-balanced. He’s improved from two to three, and I feel he has improved again from the spring to now. Mentally, he is solid. He has a good mind.

“In any year, the Dante winner is never far away in the Derby, and I hope that proves true again this time.”

O’Brien bids for a seventh Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday when he saddles Winter, the English 1000 Guineas winner, as well as Asking, Roly Poly and Hydrangea. Godolphin field Jim Bolger’s outsider Bean Feasa in the field of eight.

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