Dubai: Trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam’s big race aspirations have burst into life following the electrifying performances of not one, but two, potential sprint champions at the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Thursday night.

Eight speedballs went to post in the $120,000 (Dh440,646) District One Handicap over 1000m on the turf, but it was the Selvaratnam pair of Roicead (Wayne Smith) and Saayerr (Chris Hayes) who stole the show when bringing up a one-two finish for the former UAE champion handler.

Selvaratnam, who went winless during last season’s Carnival after having saddled only two winners the previous year, was delighted with the performances of both his sprinters who are now likely to be trained for a shot at the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on Dubai World Cup night.

“It’s a long way off, but yes we would like to think that they are horses for the big sprint,” said Selvaratnam, who is reticent by nature.

“We brought them here for a workout together on the turf last week. Saayerr looked the stronger of the two on that occasion but has probably needed the run tonight as he had been off almost a year. He should come on for this run.

“We will keep them both to the turf sprints for now and they are two nice, solid sprinters. Obviously it is great to win any Carnival race but to have the second as well is more than we could have hoped for.”

Selvaratnam’s stable jockey Chris Hayes had to settle for the runner-up berth aboard Saayerr as Wayne Smith partnered the winner, but he was not to be denied a first Carnival success when later partnering Top Clearance to capture the District One Mansions Handicap and bring up a meet double for Selvaratnam.

Earlier, Godolphin handler Charlie Appleby opened his Carnival account when Safety Check won a thrilling renewal of the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort for the second year in succession.

It was also a first Carnival winner for Appleby’s stable jockey William Buick who rode a big race in which South African raider Harry’s Sonran rode a blinder under the legendary Piere Strydom to snatch second place. The Mike de Kock-trained Mastermind held on for third.

“He just loves it in Dubai,” said Appleby. “The track itself and the style of racing really suits him and that was a good performance first time out. We were pretty hopeful and thought we had him fitter for this return than when he won a course and distance handicap first time last year.

“He won the Group 2 Zabeel Mile last year and that will be the next target but he does work well on dirt so, maybe after that, we will try him on the dirt. It is nice to get the first winner on the board.”

Safety Check broke the track record in the process, becoming only the second dual winner of the race since Linngari won consecutive Al Fahidi Forts in 2006 and 2007 when the race was run over the longer trip of 1600m.

“He’s a legend, a stable favourite,” said the winning jockey, Buick. “Tonight was tricky because there was such a strong pace on and it’s difficult to judge when to push the button. He has an electric turn of foot but it doesn’t last very long.”

Earlier Special Fighter earned himself a vote for the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge when breaking the track record for 1900m on dirt to win the Meydan Sobha Handicap under Fernando Jara.

“We know he runs well on the Meydan dirt but we were surprised with how well he won today,” said reigning UAE champion trainer Musabah Al Muhairi.

“He deserves a shot at a bigger prize and we will look at the middle leg of the Al Maktoum Challenge next month.”

Al Muhairi’s stable jockey Jara, who won the 2007 Dubai World Cup aboard Invasor, also impressed with Special Fighter upsurge in form and said: “He ran over 1600m in the Maktoum Challenge two weeks ago and went well enough. This is definitely a better trip for him and he will stay further.

“He really goes nicely on this dirt surface and it was a good performance today. We will think about going back up in class with him now and he is a nice horse to have in the yard.”