Japan’s team of 10 racing at Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse on March 26 pocketed two jewels from the day’s glittering card of nine. The events on Saturday at the United Arab Emirates course included six Group 1 events, three Group 2 races and were highlighted by the $10-million Dubai World Cup.

At least one Japanese runner participated in all but one event starting from the day’s third race, the Dubai Gold Cup. Three Japanese entrants swelled the ranks of both the UAE Derby and the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Lani

On the Rocks

Yu Change

The day’s first victory for Japan was also the country’s first win of the race, the UAE Derby. A Grade 2 race over 1,900 meters of dirt, the UAE Derby was the No. 4 race on the card with a 5:35 p.m. post time (local time). The American-bred, Tapit-sired colt Lani, trained by former jockey Mikio Matsunaga, topped the 3-year-old event by 3/4 length to become the first successful challenger from Japan from among the 10 horses before him on seven different occasions who had gone home empty-handed. Polar River finished in second and Japan’s Yu Change in third place.

The gray Lani, ridden by Yutaka Take, stumbled badly at the break and lost ground, but settled well in the rear running relaxed on the rail. Take moved him to the far outside down the backstretch as he readied his move, gained a forward position and shadowed the front-running Yu Change on the outside down the stretch. Lani took the lead with 100 meters to go and won strongly, holding his ground against Polar River, gaining on his outside under Patrick Dobbs.

Take said, “I had confidence. He made a late drive but he’d felt good all along. He had a hard time shaking off the others in the end but we were able to just get out in front enough.” Matsunaga praised the colt saying, “He tried hard. I was worried because he tripped at the break but he clinched in the end. Looking at the shape he’s in, I’d like to take on the Kentucky Derby. In any case, the jockey gave him a fine ride.”

Overtaken in the follow strides by the filly Polar River was Yu Change, one of two Japan-bred colts fielded by Hideyuki Mori. Stablemate On the Rocks made the board in fifth place from among the small field of seven. Joao Moreira had the ride on Yu Change and said, “I thought he might just win but he tired in the final 100 meters. For an unpopular pick, he really tried well.” Moreira added that he thought “1,900 meters might be a bit long for this horse.”

Mirco Demuro on On the Rocks said the colt had handled the pace well. “There was a tiring horse floundering in the final bend and things got a bit tight there.”

Trainer Mori had expected a slightly different strategy for his two. “I’d thought On the Rocks would race ahead of Yu Change, but it was the other way around. Yu Change got out there on his own and I think if they had played off of each other, the results might have been better. On the Rocks didn’t like the kickback he was getting but quickened well once he was moved wide. The two really did their best.”

Lani covered the 1,900 meters in a time of 1 minute 58.41 seconds.

Real Steel

Japan’s top-level victory was claimed by Real Steel in the Dubai Turf, the day’s seventh race, which got under way at 7:45 p.m. local time (0:45 a.m. Japan time). The 4-year-old Real Steel broke from the No. 14 gate and moved in to travel about five widths off the rail in third position. Partnered with Ryan Moore, Real Steel raced without cover until late in the race. He tracked the frontrunners, dropped back to fifth position around the final bend and made his move from the 500-meter mark. With a burst of speed, the bay son of Deep Impact stepped easily into the lead from 200 meters out and ran on well to the finish, beating Euro Charline, with Lanfranco Dettori up, to the line by half a length. The Godolphin-owned Irish-bred Tryster finished third.

“I am elated and speechless,” said trainer Yoshito Yahagi. “I am blessed with this horse and the people around me who have supported him.”

Yahagi said he’d been feeling frustrated “after loss after loss overseas.”

“But,” he said, “I thought that if I just kept trying, I’d win sometime.”

Real Steel’s win was the third for Japan in the Dubai Turf, a race that has had a number of distance changes, but is currently run over 1,800 meters. Twelver other runners from Japan made bids in the Dubai Turf in previous years. Admire Moon won in 2007 and Just a Way in 2014.

One and Only

Last Impact

Duramente

The Dubai Sheema Classic featured three Japanese horses among the field of nine. The Nobuyuki Hori-trained Duramente, who was recognized as Best Three-Year-Old Colt for 2015 for his wins in the classics Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), finished the best of the three, with a second-place finish 2 lengths behind winner Postponed, partnered with Andrea Atzeni. Following Duramente by a length and a half was Last Impact, a 6-year-old son of Deep Impact and runnerup in last year’s Japan Cup. One and Only, a 5-year-old by Heart’s Cry fielded by Shinsuke Hashiguchi, ran fifth.

Duramente’s rider Mirco Demuro said, “He really a super race. He’d lost the shoe on his right fore and that tired him out in the end. But even without the shoe I think he gave us a great performance.

Katsuhiko Sumii, who now trains Last Impact after taking over for the retired Hiroyoshi Matsuda, said his charge “accelerated nicely in the finish and, for a race won in record time, to make a move from the position he was in was difficult.

“He gave it his best though and I’m relieved that he held his own amid a strong field. I think he turned in a performance worthy of a Japan Cup runnerup. He showed some great footwork in the final stage.”

Last Impact’s jockey, Joao Moreira said, “He was very strong, but there were two other very strong horses. I hope I’ll get a chance to ride this one again.”

One and Only’s trainer said he was happy with the trip. “He was able to travel nicely in a good position, but he was a bit slow when the others made their moves. He didn’t give up, but ran solidly to the end.”

Yutaka Take, who had the ride on One and Only, said, “He got a good position and traveled well. I was determined to make up the lost time and we made our move at the final turn. I think it was a good run.”

Hokko Tarumae

The day’s main event, the Grade 1 2,000-meter Dubai World Cup, saw a single entrant from Japan, the World Cup veteran Hokko Tarumae. The 7-year-old son of King Kamehameha was making his third bid in a row in the World Cup. This year, he was unable to better his previous best, a fifth place scored last year, and was ridden by Hideaki Miyuki to a ninth-place finish some 9 lengths off winner California Chrome, under Victor Espinoza.

Katsuichi Nishiura, trainer of Hokko Tarumae, said, “He got pushed inside on the first and second turn and he wasn’t able to run his race because he was worrying about the other horses around him.

“His condition was good and he was switched on but I think he lost his focus. It was his third Dubai World Cup and he’s done a really good job overall.”

Jockey Miyuki said, “His start was good but California Chrome was faster. And another horse tried to bite him under way and he couldn’t get up to speed. He hated the kickback in his face around the final bend and he just wasn’t able to race as it usually does.”

Bel Canto

In other races, Bel Canto took on the Grade 1 Al Quoz Sprint over 1,000 meters. The 5-year-old mare finished next to last amid a field of 13. Winning the race was Buffering, an 8-year-old gelding.

“The results were disappointing,” said trainer Koichi Tsunoda said. “She gave it her all but it was a difficult race at a difficult track. I’m going to have to get her stronger.”

Rider Yutaka Take agreed that the horse was outclassed. “She was in good shape, but the field had a number of the world’s best sprinters and it was a difficult race for the speed she’s capable of now.”

Neo Black Dia

The Grade 2 Dubai Gold Cup over 3,200 meters went to Vazirabad, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Big Orange and Haafaguinea in second and third place, respectively. Japan’s Neo Black Dia finished in eighth place in the 11-strong field. The 8-year-old by Zenno Rob Roy was ridden by Shinichiro Akiyama, who said, “He felt nice and had a good trip but the competition from overseas was tough. Still, I’m grateful to Neo Black Dia for having brought me this far.”

Trainer Yuichi Shikato said, “He traveled at his own pace and the race unfolded nicely for him. But, in the end, the result reflected the difference of strength.”

Shikato added that he’d thoroughly enjoyed the racing though. “The atmosphere on Dubai World Cup Day was fabulous and I’d like to take on the challenge again if I have the chance.”

Please visit the following websites for more information.

Dubai Racing Club: http://www.dubairacingclub.com/
Dubai World Cup: http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/
Emirates Racing Authority: http://www.emiratesracing.com/