Bernardini colt Alpha looked a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender with a two length victory in the LR Count Fleet Stakes (1670m) at Aqueduct on Saturday.

The Sheikh Mohammed homebred had scored by six lengths on debut at Saratoga in September and followed up with a promising second behind Union Rags in the G1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont.  He closed out the year with an unplaced effort in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after becoming fractious in the gate.

Alpha (3c Bernardini – Munnaya by Nijinsky) has a history of bad behaviour in the stalls and he was at in again on Saturday rearing up under jockey Ramon Dominguez.

Recovering quickly, he raced three wide behind a slow pace before overtaking Stephanoatsee (A.P. Indy) in the straight.  “I was very pleased with that performance,’’ Dominguez said.  “Every time I asked him, he jumped on the bridle and gave me more.  Then I had to get the outrider to help me pull him up.’’

Alpha will likely stay in New York for the G3 Withers Stakes (1700m) at Aqueduct on February 4.  He is from LR Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Munnaya who has foaled 10 winners.  The best of them to date has been Saint-Cloud stakes winner Mystic Melody (Seattle Slew).

Darley shuttler Bernardini (A P Indy) was a runaway winner of the 2011 North American second-season sires’ premiership.  He started 2012 on a winning note with Darley homebred Gamilati in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial last Friday.

Bernardini came up short when his first Kentucky Derby starter Stay Thirsty finished 12th behind Animal Kingdom last year.

Sheikh Mohammed has been trying to capture the Kentucky Derby since 1992 when he sent out tough filly Hatta.  Since his millionaire yearling Essence of Dubai failed in 2002, the Dubai ruler has been on a relentless mission to win the North America’s signature event.

“We will be back,” he vowed in 2002.  “And we will keep coming back until we do win.”

A decade later, he may have found the answer with the appropriately named Alpha.