Davison targeting global raids with exciting Thunderbear
The three-year-old finished a promising season with victory at Newbury
Thunderbear storms home under Sean Levey to land the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes
Trainer Jack Davison is targeting some of the world’s biggest sprint races after Thunderbear’s maiden Group 3 success at Newbury, writes Ben Hart.
The three-year-old put the finishing touches to a hugely promising season with victory in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes, despite going off as the 12/1 outsider in a five-strong field.
After experimenting at a variety of distances, Davison reckons he has a ‘progressive sprinter’ on his hands and is relishing the prospect of making the step up in class next year.
“Thunderbear evidently has plenty of speed,” said Davison.
“I think he's a five or six furlong horse. I don't think he’ll have any problem with the six, he was staying on strong at the line at Newbury.
⚡ Thunderbear strikes for @JackJdavisond ⚡
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) September 23, 2023
The Irish raider (12/1) keeps finding at @NewburyRacing for Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes success 💚#GreenTeam pic.twitter.com/XuppzCYj8A
“Hopefully he’s a horse that can get some lofty entries next year, Prix de l'Abbaye, the Flying Five, possibly Royal Ascot at sprint distances.
“Another obvious target would be the Al Quoz Sprint. I’d love to have a crack at something like that with him. He’d be entitled to go there, and I think he would enjoy that adventure, he loves to travel.
“I'm sure he would enjoy the sun on his back, and I would like to compete in a race like that early in the season.
“Then we'd know where we stand going forward and that would leave him in good stead to have a spring campaign where we'll probably get softer conditions.”
Thunderbear’s finish to this season could not have been more different to his final tilt as a two-year-old, when he finished dead last at Dundalk in a five-furlong listed race.
The son of Group 2 winner Kodi Bear has made steady improvements since, with an early season success at Nottingham and strong performances at Naas and Royal Ascot fuelling Davison’s hopes of further success, whatever the weather.
“I think he's learned with his racing,” he said. “He’s a horse that could run keen as a two-year-old – wants to do everything in a bit of a rush.
“I'd like to think he's really figured the game out now. He’s really enjoying things and has the speed to compete over five or six furlongs, so
I'm going to approach him that way going forwards.
“Then again, he's obviously able to run to a high level on softer or heavy grounds, so that gives us more options as well.”
Meath-based Davison’s last two race triumphs have both come at Newbury, which he insists is no coincidence.
With the competition in Ireland so fierce, Davison is willing to embrace travelling in search of success and reckons another of his raiders could strike gold this weekend.
“It's just very difficult to win races in Ireland or win good races in Ireland, so I just look further afield and thankfully we've executed well at Newbury,” added Davison.
“I'm looking forward to running more horses in the UK going forward.
We're only a relatively small outfit but I feel like if we place them right and get them to perform well, we’ll get some good notoriety for it, so I'm looking forward to developing that side of the racing business.
“She’s Quality is very exciting. I'm really looking forward to running her at Cheveley Park.
“She’ll get her conditions, get her trip, she's in great form. She is one to look out for on Saturday and beyond, we’re looking forward to seeing what she can do.”