Jockey Richard Hills has high hopes for Snaafy at Jebel Ali

Snaafy carries the hopes of the Minister of Finance in the feature race at Jebel Ali.

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The Minister of Finance sends out Snaafy in the Listed Jebel Ali Mile and will have high hopes for the seven-year-old, who won over the course and distance in 2008 and the following year won the Group Three Burj Nahaar during the Dubai International Racing Carnival on the Nad al Sheba dirt.

A turf winner at Meydan Racecourse last year, he has performed well for Musabah al Muhairi, his Emirati trainer, and Richard Hills, the jockey.

"He did win on grass last season but his best form was on the Nad al Sheba dirt so this looks a good opportunity to return to dirt on a course where he has won before," Hills said.

Al Muhairi has a very strong hand as he also saddles Tayyab and Atlantic Brave. Wayne Smith, the stable jockey, rides the former and said: "It was a very tough choice and we know both handle the track. All three of ours should run well."

The Jebel Ali Mile prep was last year won by Otaared, trained on the track by Dhruba Selvaratnam and a course winner four times now. Kieren Fallon was aboard on that occasion and is again today. "That was a good effort last time and he had to dig deep as it was a real slog," Fallon said.

Mike de Kock, the South African trainer, adds further intrigue to the contest by running Wonder Lawn who won on the track, over 1950m, last year.