Blues Emperor produced a fine front-running performance to land the €100,000 Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap for trainer Johnny Murtagh.

Shane Kelly was keen to lead on the Gleneagles gelding and was soon in front on the 7/1 shot in the mile contest.

He asked his mount to stretch going to the two pole and the four-year-old asserted before the furlong marker, staying on strongly to record a length victory over the staying on Chazzesmee

It was a third career victory for Blues Emperor, who had also scored last time out at Naas.

Murtagh said:- “The horses are all going well. We worked them all on Tuesday and their scopes were clean and bloods were good.

“We had two fancied horses coming here today. On home work Rahmi (fourth) is a flashy worker but this horse when you get him to the races, and he gets into that rhythm, he’s hard to pass.

“That bit of rain we’ve had the last few days suited him. A stiff mile here is good for him, he’s very brave and when he gets to the front he doesn’t like being passed.

“He’s entered in Leopardstown for the mile and one (Nasrullah Handicap) and will probably go there and Rahmi might go to Galway.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)