Stormardal, ridden by Wayne Smith for Ismail Mohammed, was impressive when defeating five rivals in the featured 1600m handicap at Meydan’s domestic fixture on Friday.

It was second course and distance victory for the horse this year who had been given a break since the middle of January.

Smith explained: “This horse has had a few problems and we have had to be patient with him. He seems best fresh so I imagine that is what we will try and do next season and, hopefully, he could yet be a Carnival horse for 2017.”

Paul Hanagan rode a treble for his boss, Sheikh Hamdan, with the Doug Watson-trained Moosir making all in a 1600m handicap and the same trainer’s Nathr repeating the trick in a 1900m handicap.

The middle leg of the treble was provided by Alareef, leading only in the final strides to land a 1200m handicap for South African Mike de Kock.

Hanagan said: “It has just been a brilliant season, both for myself and, in particular, Sheikh Hamdan.”

De Kock was also to complete a brace with the smooth victory of Baroot, in a 1400m handicap, also a second winner for jockey Smith.

The two maidens on the card were won by Rockley, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer and ridden by Royston French over 1600m, before the Ahmad bin Harmash-trained Burnt Pavlova and Chris Hayes made all over 2000m.

Hayes was deputising for Harry Bentley who was on duty in Qatar at a meeting originally postponed due to inclement weather on Wednesday.