Saeed bin Suroor hailed Thunder Snow “a special horse” after confirming the retirement of the dual Dubai World Cup hero.

The five-year-old became the first ever horse to win the hugely prestigious race twice, when edging out Gronkowski in a thrilling contest at Meydan in late March – adding to his dominant front-running victory of 12 months earlier.

The son of Helmet also counts Group One triumphs in the Criterium International and the Prix Jean Prat among his eight career victories, while his most notable effort in defeat came when third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

Bin Suroor had hoped to see his charge have a second tilt at the Breeders’ Cup feature last weekend, but he spiked a temperature when due to run in America during the summer and never made it back to the track.

Bin Suroor told the PA News Agency: “Thunder Snow has been retired. He will go down in history, having won the Dubai World Cup twice. He was a great horse who always tried his best.

“He is a special horse, and we will miss him in the stable, but we look forward to his future as a stallion.”

Thunder Snow was also second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and third in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2017 – and won more than £12.5million in prize money.

Provided by Press Association Sport