His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Derrinstown Stud were the generous sponsors of Friday's Listed Jebel Ali Stakes but the owner's famous blue and white silks were denied victory when his Haatheq was caught close home.

The race was won by Emmrooz, trained on the course by Dhruba Selvaratnam for Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, his main patron and owner of Jebel Ali racecourse.

Kieren Fallon was in the saddle in the 1950m feature and said: "Dhruba was very hopeful he would stay and he certainly has needed to as they went a good gallop. I took my time before committing him for home and he has run on nicely. He should be a nice Carnival horse."‬‬‪‪

Connections were celebrating a rapid fire double having won the main support race, the prep for the Jebel Ali Mile, half an hour earlier with Otaared.

Settled behind a frantic early gallop, Fallon eased his mount into contention three-parts through the 1600m contest and they hit the front 200m out and were always going to hold on.‬‬‪‪

Selvaratnam said: "He is a nice horse and we will bring him back for the Mile itself before looking at the Carnival."‬‬‪‪

Another horse with Carnival pretensions but may have to wait until next year is Tayyab who won the 1400m handicap under Wayne Smith for Musabah Al Muhairi.

Smith said: "He is a horse we like and think could be a Carnival prospect."

‬‬‪‪ Hunter's Glen (Doug Watson/Pat Dobbs) landed his second course win of the season in the 1800m handicap, while two horses lost their maiden tag on the all Thoroughbred six race card; Mureb (Mubarak bin Shafya/Pat Cosgrave) won the opening 1600m maiden and Knight's Way (Abdullah bin Huzaim/Carlos Sanchez) landed the concluding 1200m handicap.‬‬