Saeed Bin Suroor mounting double Classic challenge

Saeed bin Suroor used to be a regular competitor in the Classics and while these days his runners in big races are much less frequent, he is represented in both the Betfred 1000 and 2000 Guineas this weekend.

Tornado Alert will line up in the colts’ Classic on Saturday, a race the trainer has won twice before but not since Island Sands in 1999.

The filly Elwateen has only been seen once before, when creating a favourable impression in victory at Kempton, but attempts to run last autumn were thwarted by a cough and she now returns in Sunday’s 1000 Guineas.

“Tornado Alert is a Newcastle winner who is improving all the time,” said Bin Suroor.

“From what I see in the mornings I’ve been very happy with him, but I think he will need further in time.

“We will start him over a mile and let him take a chance in a big race but I like him, I like what he’s doing in the morning so we’ll see how he goes.

“His pedigree tells me he will want further, but Too Darn Hot (sire) was a fast horse. The pace they will go will help, a strong pace will suit and I’d like to see him handy in the race, in the second tier.

“If he runs well I think we’ll go to the Dante with him because he’s in the Derby, so if he then ran well at York we’d go to the Derby.”

Bin Suroor did win the 1000 Guineas two years ago with Mawj to add to the victories of Kazzia and Cape Verdi, but were Elwateen to be successful, she would create a little bit of history as the first Classic winner for Bin Suroor to run in the Shadwell colours.

“She’s a nice filly, it was a shame we couldn’t give her another run last year but she was coughing,” he said.

“When she ran at Kempton she wasn’t really ready for that race so to do what she did was impressive.

“She’ll need a mile-plus but she’s working well, they have both been working on the Limekilns round gallop and she is improving with every piece of work.

“This is the right race, the right trip so we’ll see how she goes.”