William Haggas sweet on Dubai date with fit-again Mutakayyef

William Haggas remains optimistic he will have Mutakayyef ready in time for a tilt at the Dubai Turf at Meydan later this month.Third in both the Juddmonte International and Woodbine Mile, the Group Two-winning son of Sea The Stars was forced to miss an outing in last month's Winter Derby at Lingfield after he sustained a foot abscess.With the six-year-old now fully recovered from that minor setback, plans are in place to run him in the nine-furlong Group One contest, for which he is as short as 7-2, on March 25.Haggas said: "We are trying to get him to World Cup night for the Dubai Turf."He was supposed to have a run in the Winter Derby, but he had a foot abscess which is now better."He goes well fresh, so I am not overly concerned that we can't get him ready."It is just a case of him behaving, getting a good draw and focusing on what he is doing."He is due to work this weekend and he will have to do something the following week, too, and hopefully we will get him there in one piece."The plan is to fly him out there on Friday week."The Newmarket handler stressed that Afjaan is unlikely to run in the Betway Lincoln on the opening day of the turf season at Doncaster on April 1.The five-year-old gelding was as short as 12-1 to make a winning return in the first major prize of the campaign.Haggas added: "He won't make the Lincoln. We are going to go the Victoria Cup and Hunt Cup route with him."He ran a good race at Ascot at the back end of last season."He is a very talented horse and has really matured this winter. I hope he will have a good season."He might graduate to proper Group class. He is lightly raced and has the potential to go up the ladder."