TAWHID 4.50 NEWBURY
Tawhid bids to become the fourth winner in five years for Saeed Bin Suroor and drops in class from a Group 3 into a listed race. He was fourth to Top Notch Tonto in the Superior Mile finishing 2ls ahead of Montiridge. That form can’t be taken at face value as the winner and second were rated some 12lbs and 16lbs below Tawhid. His third to Gregorian and Soft Falling Rain in his previous race, the Group 2 Hungerford, looks the better form considering the winner came from the Sussex Stakes behind Toronado and Dawn Approach and subsequently placed in the Group 2 Park Stakes. Tawhid has two wins and a second from three runs on soft/heavy ground and has won over this course and distance.
Free Wheeling is the second Bin Suroor runner and on a line through Lockwood has the beating of Tawhid. However, all his form has come on Tapeta or fast ground in Australia. He beat Pied A Terre 4ls last year in a listed race, 2-2 in listed company in Australia, and that form wouldn’t be good enough here. He did win over 7f but he was better over 6f and he has unplaced twice when returning to the track after a break of 90 days or more.
Firebeam is the third Godolphin representative and has a bit to find on official figures. He had a couple of seconds in listed company when with Willie Haggas but his second to Intransigent last time wasn’t anywhere near what is required here.
Magic City steps up from handicap company. He has had two races in listed company and unplaced in both. He has only run once on soft ground and unplaced.
Fort Bastion has not shown anything in his two races away from Richard Hannon and it is difficult to ascertain what level of ability he retains after he unseated at the start on his debut for Richard Fahey. He is 0-3 in listed company, 0-2 on soft ground and 0-4 over 7f. Fahey has an awful record at Newbury, 7-113, 0-10 in listed or better.
Arnold Lane won a Group 3 in Munich on soft ground earlier in the season which would give him a shout here. However, on a line through Gregorian he would do well to get close to Tawhid and Free Wheeling. He is sure to strip fitter for that run in the Park Stakes last week but his record of 0-5 in pattern company in the UK is off putting.
Well Acquainted has won twice, both at Epsom and he is 0-8 over a straight course. He is 6lbs inferior to Tawhid and might find that concession beyond him.
Correspondent has run in pattern company five times and unplaced in them all. He has never placed in four races on a straight course.
Enrol has never run on this type of ground and her three wins have come on good or quicker. She has a lot find here.
Conclusion: Since the turn of the century, Godolphin have had a representative in ten Dubai Duty Free Cups and won four with the other years representatives getting placed. With form figures of 1211 in the last four years, it is clearly a race they don’t like going to other establishments. Well represented this year, Tawhid looks the pick. Firebeam should make the pace and Tawhid can track him. It may well not be run to suit their other representative Free Wheeling as he is a hold up horse.
