The Shadwell organisation of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum sponsored Thursday’s fifth Meydan Dubai International Racing Carnival meeting and it was the sponsor’s Nirwan who won the opening 2200m Group One Purebred Arabian version of the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

Tadhg O’Shea was in the saddle on the Doug Watson-trained Nirwan and the trainer said: “It is great to win these races and we have done well in this race in the past.”

Godolphin have enjoyed a great start to the Carnival and won another feature race when Allybar and Ahmed Ajtebi landed the Thoroughbred version of the Al Maktoum Challenge Round II, a Group Three contest over 1900m. Settled in rear behind a sedate gallop, Ajtebi took his mount wide turning for home before making smooth progress to lead 200m out.

Once in front they were never going to be caught and trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said: “He is a horse we like and I imagine we will come back for the third round of the Maktoum Challenge on Super Thursday.”

Ajtebi added: “I was always quite happy and he ran on very well when I asked him to win his race.”

Trainer and jockey then won the concluding 1600m handicap with Calming Influence, who was actually a fourth winner on the night for Bin Suroor and Godolphin. Frankie Dettori was in the saddle on Emirates Champion who won the 2200m handicap and Dettori said: “He ran well first time and I was always happy throughout the race.”

The jockey was back in the winner’s enclosure after the 1400m handicap having partnered Sirocco Breeze to a comfortable success. Last at halfway, the pair surged clear 200m out to win easily. Trainer Bin Suroor explained: “We thought he would run better last time but was in good form coming into the race and he quickened nicely.”

The UAE 2000 Guineas was won for a fourth time by South African Mike De Kock with Christophe Soumillon performing the steering on Musir (pictured) who was always travelling strongly in mid division.

Produced to challenge down the centre, he could be called the winner a long way out as Soumillon sat motionless as his rivals were hard at work. It was Godolphin’s Frozen Power who chased him home but Soumillon was always confident: “I was worried about the draw beforehand but during the race I was always happy. He has a real touch of class and these horses are a pleasure to ride.”

The first Thoroughbred race of the night, a 1200m handicap, was won by Kevin Shea on the De Kock-trained Frosty Secret who was never far off the pace and quickened clear 300m out. De Kock said: “He is a great Carnival horse and always runs his race.”

Leahurst was an impressive winner on the opening night of the Carnival but even more son in the 1200m handicap under an ultra confident Ryan Moore who said: “He is a nice, improving young horse. I was always confident.”