Connections of Haatem are hoping that he can take a step forward from a highly promising reappearance effort as he gears up to defend his crown in Tuesday’s Listed Wolferton Stakes (2000m).

Third behind Notable Speech in the 2024 Group 1 2000 Guineas (1600m) before dropping back to 1400m to claim the Group 3 Jersey Stakes (1400m) the same year, Haatem, who was also fifth in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes (1200m) as a juvenile, ensured he would return to winning ways at the Royal meeting with a hard-fought success in last season’s Wolferton Stakes.

Richard Hannon’s son of Phoenix Of Spain was beaten less than three lengths into seventh on his return to action at Goodwood earlier in the season and connections are expecting him to improve physically for the outing.

"He's a total legend and we love him,” said Richard Brown of Wathnan Racing. “James rode him in a piece of work recently and thought he felt great, but the only worry is he hasn't fully come in his coat, and it's taken him a long time to come in his coat.

"That would slightly concern me, but he still ran a great race on his seasonal debut at Goodwood, and he will definitely come forward for that.

"He's a warrior and if he's there in the last half furlong you wouldn't want to be betting against him battling and winning. He's a real fighter and as tough as they come."

Haatem had just three parts of a length to spare over the Joseph O’Brien-trained Galen when they met last season, with the latter reportedly in good form ahead of the likely rematch having returned home from classy efforts in Bahrain and Hong Kong.

“He ran very well in the race last year and he’s not penalized this year,” said Joseph O’Brien. “He comes in here fresh and there’s a case to be made for him being better right-handed. He’s had a good preparation, and we’ll also run Adelaide River here as well.”

James Owen’s high-class Wimbledon Hawkeye is another that brings solid Group form after a win in the Group 2 Royal Lodge (1400m) as a juvenile, while George Boughey will saddle the multiple Group 1-placed mare Survie for Mrs Doreen Tabor.

He said: “It is not typically a race for the fillies but, with the Hoppings Stakes and Pretty Polly Stakes being so close, I feel it looks a nice spot for her,”

“She stepped terribly from the gate and hated the track in the Dahlia Stakes. She missed the kick at Kempton the time before as well, so we have worked intensely on her stalls work and she seems so much better now.”

Photo: Healy Racing