Dubai: Former champion trainer Erwan Charpy praised his team for their consistent teamwork and dedication after Sefri shut out strongly fancied Forjatt to win a hotly-contested renewal of the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile on Friday.

The winner did it in a repeat tactic that he successfully exploited to win a conditions event at the track four weeks ago; tracking pace-setting Silver Galaxy before hitting the front inside the final two furlongs under Paul Hanagan to run on well for a 3/4 length victory over 2014 champion Forjatt.

Ennobled Friend was a length back in third, a nose clear of Interpret who in turn denied Mawhub the fourth place also by a similar margin.

“It’s a team thing, not a one-man show,” said Charpy, who had previously won the Mile in 2009 with Golden Arrow and 2002 with Pacino.

“Paul helped us a lot because he gave us some valuable clues on how to ride him, what to do. That’s what this game is all about, team work obviously. It’s never a one man show this is really all about team work.”

Charpy revealed that a use of blinkers worked in favour of Sefri, who is likely to return to Jebel Ali in four weeks time for the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes [Feb 19] and then be trained for a shot at the Group 2 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night [March 26].

“I always liked this horse but he’s so awkward on the turn,” said the Frenchman. “So we put the blinkers to help him travel, because early in the race this is his problem.

“But the blinkers worked in his favour and because he was travelling so well he could handle the turn today and after that Paul said the rest was easy, he gave him a perfect ride.

“We tweak a few things to try and win, that’s our work to try and find the key to achieve what we want,” he added.

“With a horse like Sefri, it’s all a question of tactics. He needs a good pace which lets his natural speed play into our hands.”

Meanwhile, the Forjatt team were left ruing an incident that jockey Chris Hayes encountered early in the race that may have cost their stable star his chance of winning.

As the field settled down it appeared that Frederik Tylicki, the rider of third placed Ennobled Friend, had knocked Hayes’ whip from his hand forcing him to use only hands and heels for the rest of the race.

However, Morawij provided the tonic that Hayes and Selvaratnam were desperately in need off when he led for most of the way to capture the closing Shadwell Conditions Stakes over a straight five furlongs.

The winner crossed the line 1 1/4 lengths ahead of courst specialist Art Wave, while the Doug Watson-trained Banaadeer was a head back in third.

The next meeting at Jebel Ali on Friday, February 5 is highlighted by the Jebel Ali Stakes Prep.