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Your support makes all the difference.IT IS time to get familiar with the name Thawakib. Not a pretty one at the moment but it may sound attractive by this time next year if the filly with that handle wins the 1993 1,000 Guineas. Someone backed her from 33-1 to 20-1 this week to do just that even before she steps on to a racecourse for the first time at Ascot this afternoon, writes John Cobb.
Madness of course. But whoever placed that bet with the Tote is probably just playing up their winnings from long-range punts on Salsabil and Shadayid, the 1,000 Guineas winners of 1990 and 1991 who were also sent out from John Dunlop's Arundel stables carrying the same Hamdan Al Maktoum colours that will be borne by Willie Carson today.
Thawakib is one of seven fillies in the line-up for today's Virginia Water Stakes, a delightful race for those who do not want to get too bogged down with form. The conditions of the race exclude animals that have run, so it might pay to scan the pedigree of each contestant, calculate which is likely to be most precocious by dint of being born in say January rather than June, confirm that impression with a paddock inspection and then check which of the trainers involved have a history of success in the race. It might pay to do all that or it might be better to listen to rumour.
The word from Sussex says Thawakib, while the news from Newmarket shouts Dancing Bloom (3.00). The latter may set up a Michael Stoute double that Blush Rambler (4.05) can complete. RUNNING GLIMPSE (nap 2.30) and Requested (next best 3.30) can win races with form.
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