By A Racing Correspondent

Try Prospect

Dubai - If routines count for anything, then Paddy Rudkin's Dahik looks placed to win this afternoon's final event at Jebel Ali, a meeting that sees the reappearance of a few of the stars from last season.

 Abreeze, last season's Jebel Ali Sprint winner takes on a quality sprint field on his resumption while Fire Thunder, expected to go right to the top this season, was entered to resume in a 1,400m handicap, but was withdrawn yesterday.

 And then there is Hafid du Bac, last season's Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Triple Crown winner, who resumes against stablemate Vert Duzan and last weekend's impressive Nad Al Sheba winner Mushaagib.

 For the past two seasons, the horse has made this race his own, in 1997 he defeated Learmont by four lengths while last season saw him account for Jandeel by over five lengths. The son of Green Desert then went on to win the Jebel Ali Stakes and it is this race that Rudkin will have in mind for the horse if he comes through this afternoon's event as expected.

 In previous seasons Dahik has shown a stark contrast in his form from early in his campaign to that of later however Rudkin believes that he is a horse that doesn't race as well under lights.

 With this in mind, and his liking for the Jebel Ali surface, it appears that the horse will be kept for the afternoon meetings this season. There is no doubting his ability, he has the speed to go straight to the front and goes along at a pace just fast enough for the others to leave him alone.

 With no other recognised leaders in the race he does look well placed this afternoon though saying that Meshty, who he has to concede five kilos, is the danger Dhruba Selvaratnam obviously has the Dh350,000 Jebel Ali Stakes on January 7 in mind for the horse, the son of Lahib impressing last season when winning three of his five runs, though it is significant that those two defeats came at his first and last runs of the campaign and both were at Jebel Ali.

 Still, he did manage to beat the highly promising Astrologer at the course so he does have the necessary class to handle the rise in grade. The reappearance of Hafid du Bac in the opening event begins the day on a perfect note, the horse proving to be the star newcomer to the UAE ranks last season, winning first up and then winning all three legs of the Arabian Triple Crown.

 Behind him there was Zefiro De Nulvi who raced so well for Julian Smart during the Summer in Europe. Vert Duzan also raced well for trainer Erwan Charpy last season and these two look to have it between them however Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed's Mushaagib does have a fitness advantage on them, winning impressively at Nad Al Sheba's opening meeting last Sunday night.

 If Hafid du Bac was the most impressive Arabian newcomer last season, then there is no doubt that the Rudkin-trained Fire Thunder was the most impressive thoroughbred. Fire Thunder, a Dh28,000 purchase from the Dubai Horses in Training Sale, won three on end for owner Salem Rashid Ghadayer, and appears the horse most likely to rise to the occasion.

 Now that Fire Thunder is out, the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Mumtaaz and the Selvaratnam-prepared Elbarree appear to have the race between them, both being impressive last season.

 A high quality sprint field is also on the card with Abreeze returning to the scene of his Jebel Ali Sprint triumph. He won't have it all his own way however with Try Prospect, a former two time winner of the Jebel Ali Sprint, and Kharir, the short course record holder at Nad Al Sheba, engaged.

 It promises to be a quality affair and one in which the course record looks set to be broken, Abreeze just getting the verdict.