Local handler Ali Al Raihe has been in fantastic form in the four pre-Christmas meetings and starts this new year with the top three rated plus two other entries in this opener. Hazaz is comfortably the pick on his form in the UK for Clive Brittain which included a close third in a Listed handicap at Newmarket. He made his debut here a fortnight ago when 10 lengths behind stablemate Maali but, with Pat Cosgrave taking over from an apprentice, better is anticipated. The stable also saddled BLUE SEA in that race and he ran very well to finish a close third, just unable to quicken off what was a slow pace. With Royston Ffrench again in the plate, he's expected to gain his first success in Dubai at his third attempt. Nabah is the third highly rated member of the stable entered and he's no forlorn hope as Sylvestre De Sousa was on board when he finished a close third here in March and is back in the saddle again. Periphery showed some promise for Godolphin and will be better for his opening effort behind Surfer here two weeks ago.
