Haatef trainer confident

Irish raider set for Group Two tilt

Last updated: 13th May 2008

richard hills haatef

Haatef: York on Wednesday

Trainer Kevin Prendergast is hoping for a "big run" from Haatef in the Duke of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes at York on Wednesday.

The four-year-old ended last season on a high note with a thrilling victory over Dark Missile in the Diadem Stakes at Ascot.

And now the colt bids to take another Group Two prize back to Ireland.

"If the ground is similar to what it was like at Ascot when he won the Diadem we expect a big run," said Prendergast of the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned horse.

"He beat most of them that are in the race tomorrow in the Diadem and he looks to have shown the normal improvement from three to four.

"If he shows the improvement that we expect him to, and matches what he has done physically, we expect a big run."