Dubai: Emirati handler Ali Rashid Al Raihe holds the aces in the Dh500,000 Jebel Ali Stakes, the feature event at Friday’s Jebel Ali race meeting, when he saddles the evergreen Haatheq.

The nine-year-old veteran showed he still has the competitive edge when pegging back the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained UAE newcomer Bluff in the prep race two weeks ago.

A winner of eight starts in the UAE including six at Jebel Ali, he has been placed in a plethora of big races, both on this course and at Meydan. Haatheq will hope to go one better after finishing second in the 2011 renewal of the Jebel Ali Stakes behind Selvaratnam’s Emmrooz.

Whether Bluff poses the biggest threat to Haatheq’s chances remains to be seen, but the US import impressed immensely in what was only his second start in the UAE.

The 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, he bounced back emphatically to run a close 1 ¼ second to Haatheq in the prep on his last start.

“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 Sefri, 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.

Last year’s winner Jutland and 2014 victor Interpret are among the 11 horses who will face the start.

Watson-trained Jutland is seeking a sixth course victory, while Interpret has two other Jebel Ali victories to his credit.

“He goes particularly well at Jebel Ali and stays the trip well,” said Watson. “He has been working nicely and will hopefully be thereabouts in what appears an open renewal.”

The Jebel Ali Stakes is sponsored by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who is represented by three of the runners.

His first jockey, Paul Hanagan, rides the Erwan Charpy-trained Sefri, winner of the Jebel Ali Mile last month.

“He impressed me when winning the Mile,” said Hanagan. “These choices are never easy but he should have a big chance, despite his penalty.”

Selvaratnam also appears to have strong claims in the Jebel Ali Sprint Prep (1000m), where he saddles the speedy Morawij, a smart winner of a conditions event at the track last month. Shaishee, trained by Musabah Al Muhairi, looks the main danger.

GN Selections

Race Horse

1) 1. Aragorn Forta; 2. Hakim.

2) 1, Padlock; 2, Absolute Sway.

3) 1. Haatheq; 2. Sefri.

4) 1. Ferguson; 2. Fitzgerald.

5) 1. Lady Hawk; 2. Mathematics.

6) 1. Morawij; 2. Shaishee.

Day’s Best: Haatheq