Jebel Ali: Jebel Ali Stakes (Listed)  1m2f, dirt

THE first of three Stakes races at Jebel Ali this season, the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes has attracted a field of eight but Treble Jig, winner of the race in each of the last two years, is not among them as he now competes in Saudi Arabia.

In his absence, the 2011 winner Emmrooz (Dhruba Selvaratnam/James Doyle) has the opportunity to become the second winner of the race and first to regain the crown. He won for the first time since that big race success a fortnight ago in a 1m1f handicap from Interpret (Musabah Al Muhairi/Silvestre De Sousa) who opposes again.

Doyle said: “He is nine now but showed last time he retains plenty of ability. We took the visors off that day and he really travelled well so the headgear stays off.

“The extra trip will suit him and he should run well.”

When he won the Jebel Ali Stakes in 2011, Emmrooz was chased home by Haatheq (Ali Rashid Al Raihe/Paul Hanagan) who will bid to go one better this year and also arrives on the back of a 1m1f victory two weeks ago.

Hanagan said: “He is a great horse to be associated with and goes well on any surface but does seem best at Jebel Ali. He will surely run his usual solid race.”

He beat Jutland (Doug Watson/Pat Dobbs) in that race two weeks ago and the trainer also has Storm Belt (Sam Hitchcott) in the field. Watson said: “Jutland has a penalty but should be thereabouts and Storm Belt is improving and goes particularly well on dirt. It is nice to have two good chances in such a good race.”

Farrier (Satish Seemar/Richard Mullen) looks a big danger to all bidding to make it three wins from four course outings. He beat Jutland on their seasonal reappearances and Mullen said: “This is a horse we have always liked and he deserves to take his chance in this grade. He should go close.”

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