Shafaaf was a Listed winner in France in 2022 and Doug Watson will find a race for him. Franz Strauss, a winner at Newcastle for the Gosden stable, only ran three times here last winter and ended with victories in two strong handicaps, making all in the latter. The consistent Alhzeem could hardly have won more easily at Jebel Ali but has been hit with an 11lb rise. His stable also run WESSALL (NAP), runner-up for William Haggas at Kempton and a very impressive winner on his debut for his new yard at Jebel Ali earlier this month.
Shafaaf (USA) (9-3) 5th of 8, 3 3/4l behind Jadoomi (8-13) at Clairefontaine 1m 1f lst stks gs in Jul.
Franz Strauss (8-6) won at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb beating Sanad Libya (8-6) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Alhzeem (USA) (9-3) won at Jebel Ali 1m hcp fst in Nov beating Delorean (8-10) by 5 1/2l, 11 ran.
Military Law (9-0) 11th of 14, 26 1/2l behind Salute The Soldier (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 fst in Mar.
New Comedy (IRE) (9-11) 15th of 16, 9 1/2l behind Count Rostov (9-3) at Abu Dhabi 1m in Nov.
Book Review (9-11) 10th of 13, 24 1/2l behind Qareeb (8-9) at Meydan 1m 1f hcp in Nov.
Deciduous (9-7) 9th of 13, 12 1/2l behind Qareeb (8-9) at Meydan 1m 1f hcp in Nov.
Vasilakos (9-1) 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Qareeb (8-9) at Meydan 1m 1f hcp in Nov.
Wessall (9-2) won at Jebel Ali 1m 1f mdn stks fst in Nov beating Alwareeth (9-2) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.
