unfuwain made two starts in the late summer of 1987. on his debut, he finished second in a 27 runner maiden race at newbury to the subsequent st leger winner minster son. he confirmed the promise of this run with a win in the haynes, hanson and clark conditions stakes at the same track a month later. his early runs established his racing style; he lacked acceleration but was able to sustain a "relentless" gallop over sustained distances.