Has Saeed bin Suroor got the right horse to land a race he likes winning?

Sunday: 4.05 Pontefract
Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Summer Festival Pomfret Stakes (Listed) | 1m | 3yo+ | RTV

Saeed bin Suroor has enlisted the services of Pontefract’s leading rider Danny Tudhope to partner Godolphin’s Dubai Icon as the trainer attempts to win the Pomfret Stakes for a fourth time.

It is a strong edition of the £50,000 Listed mile contest, with all but one of the seven runners having an official rating above 100.

Godolphin are also represented by the Charlie Appleby-trained Modern News, who will be partnered by last year’s winning jockey William Buick.

But Bin Suroor, successful in the race with Blue Ksar (2007), dead-heater Rio De La Plata (2010) and Emerald Commander (2011), reckons his representative has the right credentials to go close.

Dubai Icon showed his wellbeing when defying top weight in a handicap at Windsor last month.

Bin Suroor said: “There is a better class of horse running in the race this year but Dubai Icon is working well and has come out of his race at Windsor in great shape.

“I like sending horses for this race and it would be great if we could do it again. The fast ground won’t be a problem and he’s a horse who needs to be handy, so the track should suit him."

What they say

Michael Dods, trainer of Brunch
It looks a much tougher race this time than when we won it last year with Brunch. He’s in really good form but he doesn't want the ground too firm. He’s had a few quick races, so we'll have to see whether he takes his chance.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Magical Morning
It didn't work out for him in the Hunt Cup but he did it well at Doncaster. This is not going to be easy with the likes of Modern News in there, but there isn’t much to choose between several of them on the ratings. He’s only run once before in a Listed race but he’s been doing well in big handicaps and he’s ready to go back to Listed company. He’s run well on tracks with an uphill finish, so this course should suit.

Roger Fell, trainer of Marie’s Diamond
The race is hot this year and we weren’t expecting that when we first looked at it. He’s hard to place now and he’s got a bit to find on the ratings but we'll have a go. He’s drawn six, which isn’t ideal as the plan will be to try to get him out quickly and lead. He’s much better from the front, so tracks such as this one and Musselburgh are ideal.

Owen Burrows, trainer of Alflaila
I was a bit disappointed with him in the Jersey Stakes but he bounced back with an excellent run in the Sir Henry Cecil race at Newmarket. He split two horses who had previously run well in a Group 1 race. This is a competitive little race with the two Godolphin horses, one of Sir Michael’s and one from the Gosdens, but he is in there with a great chance. Pontefract is a bit of a specialists track but the stiff uphill finish should suit him as I’m thinking of trying him over further in time.

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