Dubai: Jockey Paul Hanagan had plenty of praise for Haatheq after the nine-year-old notched a tenth career victory from 51 starts when landing the Jebel Ali Stakes Prep race on Friday afternoon.
It was his sixth at Jebel Ali his third victory in the same race after 2010 and 2013.
Trained by former UAE champion handler Ali Rashid Al Raihe, Haatheq comfortably pegged back Bluff, trained on the track by veteran Dhruba Selvaratnam while the Satish Seemar-trained Pupil stayed on for third in the 1950-metre contest which was first run in 1993.
“He’s an absolute legend,” said Hanagan, who was winning for the fourth time aboard the son of Seeking The Gold.
“I was happy to sit where I was as he had a nice even pace in the race. I was just kind of nudging him all along. Every time he runs a race that’s his style. He’s very versatile and he’s better off the bridle.”
Hanagan agreed with Al Raihe that Haatheq should come back to the hilly track for the $500,000 (Dh1.8 million) Listed Jebel Ali Stakes on February 19.
“Time is running out for him a bit and I think he should come back as he looks to be in great form and condition,” added Hanagan.
Haatheq, who was previously trained by John Dunlop in the UK, won his first start in the UAE at Jebel Ali in December 2010.
Al Raihe, who has not lost faith in his experienced galloper believes that he is as good as he ever was and is capable of challenging for the Jebel Ali Stakes in two weeks’ time.
Hanagan completed a meet double when he teamed-up with the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Dairam to win the concluding race of the day, a 1000m event sponsored by Arabian Adventures.
In a tight finish, Dairam scored by half a length from Doug Watson’s Mathamatics, while Frobisher was a neck behind in third for trainer Satish Seemar.
However, Watson did not go home empty-handed, having won the 1400m Emirates Skywards handicap with Just A Penny.
It was the Irish-bred gelding’s first UAE win in six starts.
Emirates airline sponsored the entire afternoon’s card.
