Regan Bayliss aboard Faatinah (Image: Racing Photos)
Faatinah will chase a Group 1 scalp in next month's Moir Stakes (1000m) after returning to the track with a brilliant win in the Listed Carlyon Strakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Last campaign the speedy gelding won over 1200m at Meydan before an unplaced run in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) and co-trainer David Hayes said the son of Nicconi had returned to the stable in career-best shape.
Regan Bayliss rode Faatinah to suit the on-pace pattern for the day, beginning well and settling outside leader Sunday Escape before taking the lead and sprinting away inside the final 200m.
"I reckon he's a better horse than he was this time last year and he won the Bobbie Lewis last year," Hayes said.
"His trackwork suggested that he's never gone better.
"He's only improved since he's come back (from Dubai)."
WATCH: Hear from Hayes
The half-length victory over Sunday Escape took Faatinah's first-up record to five wins from seven starts and Hayes said the six-year-old would tackle the Moir without another run.
WATCH: Faatinah's win