Thunder Snow's Breeders' Cup Classic hopes 'in the balance'

An update Thursday from trainer Saeed bin Suroor provided by the Dubai Racing Club's publicity staff termed Thunder Snow's Breeders' Cup Classic aspirations as "in the balance."

A two-time winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1), Thunder Snow remains at bin Suroor's base in Newmarket, England, where he shipped after scratching the morning of the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes (G1) due to a fever.

“He had a temperature in New York,” bin Suroor said. “He’s getting a small break, and there’s no plan for him yet.”

Listed second in this week's Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, Thunder Snow figures to drop a few spots with his status uncertain. Last year, he was able to prep in the U.S., finishing second in Belmont Park's Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) before returning to be third in the Classic at Churchill Downs.

For now, there are no plans of a race prior to the Nov. 2 Classic at Santa Anita Park. And were Thunder Snow to head straight into the 1 1/4-mile race, he would do so without a race since running third in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on Belmont Stakes day.

A son of Helmet, 5-year-old Thunder Snow also counts the 2017 UAE Derby (G1) among his eight wins from 24 career races. The Godolpin homebred has earned in excess of $16.5 million.