Doubles were the order of the day at Jebel Ali on Friday with Paul Hanagan riding a brace for his main employer, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, including Dairam in the concluding 1000m handicap, one of two winners on the card trained by Musabah Al Muhairi.
Trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe and with Hanagan sporting the famous blue and white silks of Sheikh Hamdan, Haatheq was the game winner of the featured 1950m Jebel Ali Mile Prep.
He will be back in a fortnight to try and win the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes, over the same course and distance and was winning for the fist time since landing this equivalent prep in December 2013 (when it was over 1800m).
Congratulations to Paul Hanagan who rode his 100th UAE winner today at Jebel Ali.
— Al Ain Racecourse (@AlAinRaces) February 5, 2016
Hanagan said: “He (Haatheq) is nine now and does not know how to run a bad race. He has been placed in Godolphin Miles, Jebel Ali Miles and other big races. He is versatile regarding trip and underfoot conditions and is a real star. Hopefully, he has another win in him and deserves to land a big prize.”
Dairam and Hanagan were winning at the second consecutive Jebel Ali fixture, having won over 1200m two weeks ago. This time it was Conform With Fact, ridden by Fernando Jara and also trained by Al Muhairi, who won the 1200m handicap on the card.
The Doug Watson string remain in good form and stable jockey, Pat Dobbs, always looked confident on Just A Penny in a 1400m handicap.
Watson said: “That was good; he has been highly strung but the team have worked hard to relax him. He has won twice at Jebel Ali now.”
Fa’Iz has long threatened to win a race and finally did; opening his account at the 42nd attempt (35th locally) in the opening 1600m maiden, to the relief of his trainer, Erwan Charpy.
