Taqdeer justified 4-1 favouritism in a typically competitive renewal of Newbury's Elite Racing Club Supporting Greatwood Spring Cup Handicap.
Frankie Dettori, fresh from his success on James Garfield in the Greenham, brought the lightly-raced five-year-old through to challenge in the closing stages, with several horses in with a chance.
Dettori managed to get the John Gosden-trained gelding up by a neck from Humbert, with Keyser Soze a head away in third. Gabrial was a length and a half back in fourth place.
Gosden said: "He's a grand horse that's had two years off, but Sheikh Hamdan (owner) is very patient.
"This slow ground suited him and Frankie took him all the way round the back of the field.
"I shall step him up to a mile and a quarter and we will look at a Listed race, I think that's the way to go."