Jarraaf (5/6F) marked himself down as a potential Pattern-class performer with a dominant success in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint, for Billy Loughnane and Great Britain & Ireland.
The lightly raced Jarraaf, who already had an Ascot success on his CV, powered clear down the middle of the track to score by almost three lengths, making light of his current rating of 95.
Europe contender Venture Capital (20/1) was second under Jose-Luis Borrego, with Thunder Blue (10/1) picking up some valuable points for the Ladies in third.
Loughnane said: “Jarraaf felt different class. The race went smoothly for him and he obviously has a lot of talent. I just wanted to keep him doing things the right way. We went a strong gallop into a strong enough wind, so I was keen to get cover really until the two-furlong pole. I wanted him to have a nice experience while doing the job.
“I would say the stiff six is pretty much spot on, but I was just saying then that I think a six on an easy track would actually catch him out a little bit. I would like to see him at seven on an easier track, but he is a horse who is definitely going places.”
On the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, Loughnane added: “It is a lovely thing to be a part of and hopefully that will put me back in with a chance of the Silver Saddle. Hayley [Turner] has been doing it a long time; I’m only 18 and she’s been doing it 17 years. It is her gig, as she says, but I’m going to try and take it off her. I am in a lovely position with the trainers and owners I ride for and it’s great to be a part of it.”
Marie Velon said of Thunder Blue: “That was very good – the horse was very good. He made a good start, and finished very well, but I was on the wrong side of the track. Maybe if I had been drawn on the other side I would have finished second, but he did well.”