Archipenko a winner in Dubai

First-time blinkers worked wonders for Archipenko at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday as he denied Linngari a third consecutive victory in the Group 2, $250,000 Al Fahidi Fort.

The race was his second start for South African trainer Mike de Kock since being bought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. A 4-year-old son of Kingmambo, Archipenko surged to the lead at the eighth pole, drawing clear under Kevin Shea to defeat Royal Oath by two lengths. It was another 4 1/4 lengths back to Lord Admiral, with Linngari another 3 1/4 lengths back in fourth. The time for the mile on good ground was 1:39.31.

Unplaced in five starts since having won the the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown last May, when he was trained by Aidan O'Brien, Archipenko had looked dull in his Dubai debut when he was 10th over an inadequate 6 1/2 furlongs on Feb. 7. The combination of blinkers and de Kock's magic touch, however, has made a new horse of him, and he will take his place in the Dubai Duty Free on Dubai World Cup Night, March 29.

Earlier, Godolphin's Jalil made it 2 for 2 on the Nad Al Sheba dirt. A Storm Cat-Tranquility Lake full brother to two-time Grade 1 turf winner After Market, he raced widest of all from post 16 in the 1 1/4-mile handicap but had no trouble galloping to a 2 1/2-length victory over the Pascal Bary-trained Gloria de Campeao, clocking a rather swift 2:01.81. A $9.7 million Keeneland yearling, he will use Round 3 of the Maktoum Challenge on March 6 to test the waters for the Dubai World Cup.