Le Bernardin forwarded his claims for Dubai World Cup night with victory in the feature event on the opening card of the Carnival meeting at Meydan.
The seven-year-old was a Listed winner at the track before Christmas and he was sent off favourite for the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge in the hands of Tadhg O'Shea.
Unable to employ the front-running tactics he used to good effect in his previous win, O'Shea kicked for home early instead, pulling clear on the turn. Layl, Prayer For Relief and Faulkner all made late bids for glory in the Group Two event, but they were each beaten a head as they had to settle for minor honours behind Le Bernardin.
O'Shea told Racing UK: "He's a very good horse. He stays well and he's got a long stride. The last furlong was a bit lonely but then he just did enough to hang on.
"We had him better today than the first day, so I was always confident.
"The big thing with him is to space his races out. We will let him recuperate from this and then his big target is the Godolphin Mile."
O'Shea and Le Bernardin's trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe dominated the card, with Nawwaar kicking off a treble for the jockey in the Longines Conquest Classic Gents Moon Phases.
O'Shea also struck on Al Raihe's Ghaamer in the closing Longines Master Collection Handicap, while the trainer was on the mark with former William Haggas inmate Ertijaal in the Longines Dolce Vita Collection.
Ertijaal was ridden by Paul Hanagan as he emerged an impressive four-length victor.
One Man Band struck for Pat Dobbs in the Longines Conquest Classic Ladies, while David Marnane's Irish raider Elleval had to be content with second in the Longines Master Collection.
Elleval has won twice at previous Carnivals but Star Empire proved a length and a quarter too good under Sam Hitchcott.