Al Raihe and O’Shea the big winners on opening night of 2016 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan

Al Raihe saddled the first three Thoroughbred winners on his way to four victories in total across the card presented by Swiss watchmaker Longines, which was highlighted by Le Bernardin winning the feature race of the evening, the 1600 metre Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1.

O’Shea for his part was aboard three of those winning mounts, the second coming when Le Bernardin egded the feature from Layl in second and Prayer For Relief by a head.

The launch of the Dubai World Cup Carnival is the start of a 10 race meeting series which culminates in the world’s richest day of racing, the Dubai World Cup, which also takes place at Meydan, on 26 March and carries a prize purse worth $30m.

The first Thoroughbred race of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, a 1200m dirt handicap, was run at a ferocious pace with Kifaah trying to make all, closely followed by My Catch.

However, they both proved vulnerable to Nawwaar who raced in third most of the way before staying on strongly to snatch the spoils for the first of the Al Raihe and O’Shea winning streak.

Al Raihe then saw victory in the second race of the evening, the first Meydan turf race of the season the 1000 metre Longines Dolce Vita handicap. The owner’s retained jockey Paul Hannigan was this time aboard race favourite Ertijaal who made all the running. After skipping clear at about halfway after, they never looked in danger as they won easily by four lengths ahead of Divine in second and Speed Hawk in third.

Le Bernardin then made it three out of three races for Al Raihe in the Al Maktoum Challenge, before his winning sequence was broken in the Longines Master Collection handicap as South African trainer, Mike de Kock supplied the first overseas winner.

Star Empire did not necessarily look the strongest of his three runners in the 2000 metre turf handicap but jockey Sam Hitchcott having his first ride for the trainer, finished fast and late to deny Elleval from Ireland.

Pat Dobbs complete a double on the dirt, again making all the running in the Longines Conquest Classic handicap, this time on the Doug Watson-trained One Man Band.

Having broken the 1600 metre Meydan dirt track record on his previous start, his chances of further success were high and the combination justified favouritism by settling the race a long way from the finishing line and in doing so creating a new record time on the 1900 metre track.

Emirates Flyer was second a length and a half back with Hunting Ground in third a further three-quarters of a length back.
To end the evening, the Al Raihe and O’Shea partnership combined to win the concluding 1400 metre Longines Master Collection turf handicap with Ghaamer.

The less-fancied mount delivered the perfect finale to the opening night for trainer and jockey, coming in a length and a quarter ahead of Eastern Rules in second and another outsider, Majestic Mount in third.

The next action in the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse comes next Thursday, 14 January 2016.