He was from the first crop of fourteen foals sired by El Gran Senor, an outstanding performer in Europe where his wins included the Dewhurst Stakes, 2000 Guineas and Irish Derby.
[7] After a break of more than two months, Al Hareb returned in the Hyperion Stakes (for horses with no more than one previous win) over seven furlongs at Ascot Racecourse on 8 October.
Starting the 11/10 favourite, he took the lead inside the final furlong and accelerated away from his opponents to win by four lengths from the John Dunlop-trained Kalanski.
[8] Two weeks after his win at Ascot, Al Hareb was equipped with blinkers[9] when he moved up to Group One class for the William Hill Futurity over one mile at Doncaster Racecourse and started the 100/30 second favourite behind Polar Run, who had finished second to High Estate in the Solario Stakes.
[10] On his three-year-old debut Al Hareb contested the Craven Stakes (a major trial race for the 2000 Guineas) over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket Racecourse on 20 April.