Marinaresco could have his next Dubai race as early as three weeks on Thursday after pleasing connections on his reappearance in the Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan last Thursday.

This seven furlong Group 2 was the 2017 July winner’s first race since his third in last year’s Sun Met and he was a little considered 33-1 shot. Bernard Fayd-Herbe, who won the July on him, tucked him in at the back and the horse made some progress in the straight – without being hard ridden – to finish ninth of 13 some  five and three-quarters of a length behind the winner, the Charlie Appleby-trained D’bai.

Mike de Kock said: “I thought it was a good run, only five and three-quarters of a length off the winner after a year off. He will come on by at least the amount he was beaten. He will run in the Zabeel Mile (Group 2 on Feb 21) or the Jebel Hatta (1 800m Group 1 on March 9), or in both races.”

By Michael Clower