Horse racing-Irish colt Thunder Snow to race Kentucky Derby

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, head of the Godolphin stable, had made the decision to send Thunder Snow, winner in his last three starts, to the Kentucky Derby, said trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

“He is a big, strong colt, who is improving all of the time and acts on dirt, and we are looking forward to seeing him take on the best three-year-olds in America," Bin Suroor said.

“The Kentucky Derby is a great race and one of the few major international contests Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin has yet to win.

“Thunder Snow is a colt of the highest class and I hope that he can step up in the Kentucky Derby.”

The $2-million Kentucky Derby next Saturday is the first race of the U.S. Triple Crown, which also includes the Preakness Stakes on May 20 and the Belmont Stakes on June 10. (Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Clare Fallon)