Meydan: Le Bernardin among trainer's four winners on opening night

Veteran Dubai owner-trainer Ali al Raihe stole the show on the first night of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, winning four of the six Thoroughbred races on the card, including the Group 2, $250,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 with Le Bernardin.

Al Raihi trained the first two home in Thursday’s second race, Nawwaar and Kiifah; the impressive winner of race 3, Ertijaal; and finished off the card in race 7 with a victory by Ghaamer, a 37-1 shot in North American betting, in a seven-furlong turf handicap.

Le Bernardin, one of jockey Tadhg O’Shea’s three winners on the card, pressed a demanding pace in the 1,600 meter (about one mile) Al Maktoum Challenge, taking over the lead with about six furlongs left to race, opening a clear lead with a burst into the homestretch, and just holding on over three onrushing foes. Layl nipped Prayer For Relief for second, with Faulkner part of the closing phalanx in third.

Le Bernardin, a 7-year-old Bernardini horse owned by Sheikh Ahmed al Mohammed al Maktoum, started his career in the U.S. in 2012 before being shipped overseas. He won last January during the early part of the World Cup Carnival and failed to progress much in three subsequent starts last winter and spring, but connections might take a quieter approach this year as Le Bernardin is pointed to the Godolphin Mile on the March 26 Dubai World Cup program.

“The key with him is to space his races,” said O’Shea. “He had a hard race tonight from a high draw.”

More impressive than Le Bernardin was al Raihe’s second winner on the card, Ertijaal, who made all the running in a turf sprint for fairly highly rated handicappers. Ertijaal, Paul Hanagan riding for Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, won by four lengths over Divine while getting 1,000 meters (about five furlongs) on good going in 56.38 seconds, just outside Amber Sky’s course record of 56.21. A 5-year-old by Oasis Dream, Ertijaal made his first eight starts in England before coming to Dubai for the 2015 World Cup Carnival, and he was cut back Thursday night to the shortest trip of his career and allowed to run freely from the start.

“They’ve trained him to get that speed. We’ve always thought a lot of him,” said Hanagan, who had partnered with Ertijaal seven times previously.

Trainer Doug Watson sent out One Man Band to a solid front-running handicap win in a 9 1/2-furlong dirt handicap on the card, while Mike de Kock scored an upset in a 1 1/4-mile turf handicap with the 9-year-old Star Empire.

The World Cup Carnival continues next Thursday at Meydan.