Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O'Brien and jockey Seamus Heffernan got off the mark for the new campaign thanks to a one-length win ahead of joint favourite Honoured Guest in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race confined to three-year-olds that have not won a listed race or been placed in a group race.

John Oxx sent out the Aga Khan's Ardistan to justify favouritism with Fran Berry in the saddle in the Fly To Shannon From Liverpool Airport Maiden. The halfbrother to Azamour took the honours by four-and-a-half lengths from Princely Hero.

Meanwhile America drew first blood as Spring At Last claimed the Godolphin Mile, the opening thoroughbred event at the Dubai World Cup meeting. Garrett Gomez always had Doug O'Neill's charge up with the pace in what was a truly international contest at Nad Al Sheba. Brazilian runner Nelore Pora set the early gallop before Spring At Last hit the front in the home straight.

Asiatic Boy cemented his star status with a wide-margin success in the nine-furlong UAE Derby. And Frankie Dettori bagged a famous success when booting American raider Kelly's Landing to success in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, the ever-popular Italian's first win in the six-furlong test.

The huge Eddie Kenneallytrained six-year-old stormed up the far rail and was driven out to hold on from the fastfinishing Friendly Island.

Johnny Murtagh finished in third aboard Salaam Dubai.