DUBAI // For the second year running, the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Treble Jig proved far too good for his rivals in the 1,950-metre Listed Jebel Ali Stakes yesterday, and he continues to rewrite the local racing history books.
Already the only horse to follow up victory in this race by winning the Jebel Ali Mile, his scintillating victory means he is the only horse to have won the race twice.
There could be more to come as he will be back in two weeks to try to defend his crown in the Jebel Ali Mile, according to his jockey Wayne Smith.
"He is just a totally different horse here at Jebel Ali," Smith said.
"He loves the dirt surface and when he hits that steep hill he just powers up it.
"All being well, we will be back in two weeks for the Jebel Ali Mile."
Among his opponents will be old rival Haatheq, who chased him home in last year's Mile and won the prep race for this year's renewal yesterday with Paul Hanagan in the saddle
"We thought he would be hard to beat," Hanagan said.
"We will be back in two weeks for the big race."
Jutland was second to Treble Jig, more than eight lengths back, and Mali was a further length back, in third.
Treble Jig, a US-bred 6-year-old bay, has seven victories in 19 career races. His last win away from Jebel Ali was on the turf at Abu Dhabi in 2011.
His previous two victories also were on turf, in 2010 and 2009.
Also on Friday, Capital Attraction won a 1,400m race for thoroughbreds, and Al Razi won at 1,200m in another thoroughbred race.
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