Aljabr, a "tall, lengthy"[1] grey horse, was bred in Lexington, Kentucky by the Shadwell Stud, the breeding operation of Hamdan Al Maktoum.
[3] Aljabr was trained throughout his career by Saeed bin Suroor, spending his summers in England and his winters in Dubai as part of the Godolphin Racing team.
[4] At the end of the month Aljabr was moved up to Group Three class for the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, for which he was made odds-on favourite.
[5] On his next start, Aljabr was moved up to the highest level as he was sent to France for the Group One Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp.
In the straight he held off a strong challenge from the future European Champion Sprinter Stravinsky to win by half a length in what one correspondent described as a "pulsating showdown".
[6] By January 1999 Aljabr had shortened to 4/1 favourite for the Guineas, but after performing particularly well on the sand track in Dubai[8] the decision was taken to send him to the United States for the Kentucky Derby.
He arrived safely at Churchill Downs but was withdrawn two days before the race after bruising a hoof and sustaining a muscle injury in training.
As usual, he was sent to the front from the start and when pressed in the straight by Docksider he quickened again as "only a brilliant horse can"[10] to pull ahead and win by a length.
Dettori expressed the view that Aljabr had been "a race short" (below peak fitness) at Ascot and looked forward to taking on Sendawar again.
[14] This was to be his last association with Dettori who was forced out of action for several weeks after being injured in a plane crash;[15] in his two remaining races Aljabr was ridden by Richard Hills.