Dubai: In-form handler Dhruba Selvaratnam showed generous respect for the opposition in Friday’s Dh500,000 Listed Jebel Ali Stakes and declined to commit about American import Bluff’s chances in the second highlight of the season at Jebel Ali Racecourse.

The 1950 metre contest has attracted a quality field of 11 runners led by Haatheq, winner of the prep race earlier this month, and Sefri, vanquisher of Selvaratnam’s stable flag-bearer Forjaat in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile three weeks ago.

Assessing the chances of Bluff, one of three American-bred dirt horses that he purchased last summer, the veteran handler said: “This looks a very strong renewal of the Jebeli Ali Stakes. On weights, I would believe he does not have much of a chance.

“You have some nice horses in the race, including Sefri and Haatheq who have already won this season. I fancy our chances a little.”

However, in contrast, Selvaratnam’s stable jockey Christopher Hayes believes Bluff has genuine chances of winning the feature and compensating for Forjatt’s shock defeat in the Jebel Ali Mile last month.

Bluff, a four-year-old son of leading American stallion Tapit, was beaten 19 ½ lengths by Tiz Now Tiz Then on his Dubai debut on the dirt at Meydan on January 14, but bounced back to run a close 1 ¼ second to Haatheq in the prep race for the Jebel Ali Stakes two weeks earlier.

“I though he improved dramatically from his first run to his second run,” said a bullish Hayes. “He’s a horse that has taken a little while to learn and get his experience in his race.

“But I think the last run will have done him a world of good. He seems to have improved at home and this race has always been at the back of Dhruba’s mind so it will be nice if we can get a little bit of revenge against Serfri, who beat us [Forjaat] in the Mile.

“Hopefully, luck can right the wrong of me dropping my whip on that occasion,” added the Irish-born rider.

Friday’s six race card also features the HH Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Emirates Breeders Society Challenge, an 1800 metre contest for Purebred Arabians and the prep for the Jebel Ali Sprint.

The conference was attended by Shareef Al Halawani, Manager, Jebel Ali Racecourse, Yasir Mabrouk, representative of the Emirates Racing Authority, in addition to representatives of the sponsors.