Xaar

Xaar made his first racecourse appearance at Maisons Laffitte on 17 June. Ridden by Thierry Jarnet, he won the 1200-metre Prix de la Saône by four lengths from six opponents. In August, the colt was moved up in class for the Group Three Prix de Cabourg at Deauville in which he was ridden for the first time by Olivier Peslier who became his regular jockey for the next two seasons. Starting the 7/10 favourite, Xaar took the lead 150 metres from the finish and won by one and a half lengths from Chargé d'Affaires.[3] He was expected to follow up with a win in the Group One Prix Morny over the same course and distance but after briefly taking the lead in the closing stages, he was overtaken and beaten a head by Chargé d'Affaires.[4]

Xaar and Chargé d'Affaires met for the third time in the Group One Prix de la Salamandre over 1400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse in September. On this occasion, Xaar took the lead 200 metres from the finish and drew clear of his rival to win by three lengths.[5] On his final appearance of the season, Xaar was sent to England to contest the Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse. He was made 11/8 favourite against five opponents from Britain and one from Ireland. Peslier retrained the colt in the early stages before moving up to take the lead a furlong from the finish. In the closing stages Xaar pulled away from the field to win by seven lengths from the future European Champion Sprinter Tamarisk.[6]

As a three-year-old, Xaar was aimed at the classic 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and began his season in the Craven Stakes over the same course and distance. He started odds-on favourite and won the race, ridden out to defeat the British colt Gulland by a neck.[7] In the Guineas on 2 May, Xaar was made 10/11 favourite against seventeen opponents over the Rowley Mile course. He appeared to be under pressure at half way, and although he made steady progress he was unable to reach the leaders and finished fourth, just over two lengths behind the winner King of Kings.

Xaar was off the course for more than three months before reappearing in August at Deauville, where he finished second to Kabool in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano over 2000 metres. He was then matched against older horses and fillies in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September. He finished third of the eight runners behind Swain and Alborada.

Before the start of the 1999 season, Xaar was bought by Sheikh Mohammeds Godolphin Racing organisation and joined the stable of Saeed bin Suroor. After spending the winter in Dubai, the colt was sent to Godolphin's British base at Newmarket. He made his first appearance for his new connections at Royal Ascot, when he ran in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (then a Group Two race) over ten furlongs. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, he finished third of the eight runners behind Lear Spear and Fantastic Light. Dettori employed different tactics in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park in July, as he sent Xaar into the lead from the start. He led the field until 75 yards from the finish, when he was caught by the 20/1 outsider Compton Admiral and finished second by a neck.[8]