Coming off a sharp score in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile at Meydan on December 17, Bernardini’s La Bernardin didn’t find the trip as easy on January 7 and had to dig down deep to pull off his second career Group win in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1.
He began the Al Maktoum Challenge in much the same way as his previous start but began to tire near the line and just held off a late challenge from Street Cry’s son Layl.
Le Bernardin was a $325,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase and previously won the G3 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park as a three-year-old. He went to Dubai the following year and has been a solid performer at Meydan since, including a third-place finish in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 last year.
Bred in Kentucky by Mike Rutherford, Le Bernardin is out of the G2 Demoiselle Stakes winner La Rosa (Wild Again) and is a half-brother to G3 winner Taittinger Rose.
Bernardini had an incredible year in 2015 with four US G1 winners including G1 Champagne victor Greenpointcrusader and G1 Spinaway heroine Rachel’s Valentina. And as perhaps a preview of things to come, his son Marking finished second to Champion Sprinter in waiting, Ruhappy, in just his third career start in December. He is also the sire of five-time G1 winner Boban, as well as back-to-back G1 Travers winners Stay Thirsty and Alpha.
Bernardini has six yearlings still to go under the hammer at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast which can be viewed by clicking here.
