Dubai: First-season trainer Nacer Samiri has his eyes on one of the biggest prizes for Purebred Arabian horses, the Dubai Kahayla Classic, after watching Haajeb score a dominating victory in the second round of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan on Thursday.

Ridden confidently by Wayne Smith, the six-year-old chestnut used his superior acceleration to outpace veteran Versac PY and crossed the line a three and three-quarter length winner of the 2200 metre contest.

Samiri, who trains out of the Al Wathba Stables in Abu Dhabi, was completing an Al Maktoum Challenge double having saddled Thakif to win the first leg of the three-race series at this course on January 7.

A Moroccan national, Samiri said he will now aim Haajeb at the $250,000 Dubai Kahayla Classic on Dubai World Cup night (March 26).

“He’s shown that he likes the track at Meydan and he stays well,” said a delighted Samiri. “We will skip the third leg of the Al Maktoum Challenge and instead train him for the big race.

“It’s a great honour to win races like these and I am so proud and grateful to Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan [Deputy Prime Minister of Presidential Affairs] for giving me the opportunity to train high-class horses.

“I’ve been with Al Wathba Stables for over 15 years, where I was previously an assistant trainer. But having been given the opportunity to take over as trainer is a dream come true and among the many dreams that I now have, the big one is to win the Dubai Kahayla Classic for Shaikh Mansour.”

Wayne Smith, who won the Dubai Kahayla Classic in 2002 aboard the Julian Smart-trained Nez D’Or, believes Haajeb is a serious race horse.

“He travelled so well towards the end and even though I had to come wide I knew my horse was going to catch the front runners,” said Smith.

“He gave me such a good feel that I told Nacer that he’s a horse for the Kahayla Classic. I believe he does not need another race and that he should head straight to the big race.”

Long-time Dubai handler Erwan Charpy said he experience mixed emotions after watching nine-year-old Versac PY run his heart out for the umpteenth time.

“He’s such a great horse to have, he always gives his best. Unfortunately sometimes it is just not enough,” said the Frenchman. “He’s been second three times in the race and I believe that with a little more pace he will stand a better chance.

“Unfortunately Paul [Hanagan] was compelled to take over the running, which is not ideal for a horse like him, and then he was passed by the third place horse [AF Lafeh], but he fought back courageously and was running on at the finish.

“It’s a bit disappointing but I’m also happy that he showed what stuff he’s made off and he finished the race safely. That’s always a priority for older horses like him,” added Charpy,.

“I keep ensuring that my horses are ready the best way I can and hopefully a big win will come sooner or later. I just do my best and give the horses the chance to show their ability. The rest is up to luck.”