His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktom’s Shadwell were the generous sponsors of the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes, the 1950m feature at Jebel Ali’s third meeting of the season on Friday, and the owner came close to recouping the main prize when his Rohaani was a close second.

However, it was the Erwan Charpy-trained Rampallion who landed the spoils in a thrilling finish with jockey David Badel punching the air in delight as he crossed the line.

It was the second season running that the five-year-old make a winning seasonal debut, having won on the opening night of the Carnival in January.

Charpy explained: “He has a lot of ability but just does not stand a lot of racing. We were hoping for a big run and he has certainly not disappointed.”

Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe saddled a double with Jet Express winning the main support race, a 1400m conditions event (on the straight track), for stable jockey Royston Ffrench, before local apprentice Ahmad Ajtebi won the handicap, over the same distance but on the round course, on Heart Beat.

The double puts Al Raihe at the top of the trainers’ table and he said: “Things have gone well and the horses are in good form.”

Ajtebi was completing his own double, having won the opening 1600m Purebred Arabian handicap on Baddah, providing a first winner for new trainer Majid Al Jahouri.

Ajtebi now needs one winner to lose his apprentice status and he said: “This season is going really well and it has been a great year in general.”

Tony Manuel combined with stable jockey Adrian Nicholls to win the 1600m Thoroughbred handicap with Noisy Silence.

The concluding 1000m handicap was won by the Adi Selvaratnam-trained Tulipa Di Job.

Fernando Jara was in the saddle.