THE travelling contingent of Japanese did not have long to wait before getting off the mark in Dubai, when Lani was not to be denied in the Group 2 UAE Derby.

Sent off 12/1 fourth choice of seven in the betting, the striking grey three-year-old looked to have thrown away any realistic chance of victory when stumbling out of the stalls and conceding five lengths to his rivals.

However, steady progress along the back straight saw the Yutake Take ridden colt vying for the lead off the last bend. The son of Tapit stayed-on resolutely into the final furlong to pass the judge three parts of a length in front of the favourite Polar River with his game front-running compatriot, Yu Change, a further neck behind in third.

Post-race, connections of the Mikio Matsunaga-trained colt were quick to announce their lofty intentions; Lani is targeted to give Japan a rare runner in the Kentucky Derby on May 7th.

Real Steel, with the peerless Ryan Moore in the plate made the most of the absence of Solow to claim victory in the Group 1 Dubai Turf.

The two-time Japanese classic runner-up was sent off a 7/1 chance to successfully negotiate a path from stall 14 of 15. Forced to race wide throughout, Moore kicked for home off the last bend to cut down long-time leader Very Special as they approached the final furlong.Once the son of Deep Impact hit the lead and in full-drive, victory looked assured despite the resurgent Euro Charline chasing him home by half a length back in second.

Returning to jubilant scenes in the winner’s enclosure, Real Steel emulated two previous Japanese winners of the Dubai Turf, Just a Way (2014) and Admire Moon (2007). He also provided his trainer Yoshito Yahagi with his maiden Group 1 success outside the Land of the Rising Sun.

Duramente, touted as Japan’s main hope of success in Dubai’s spectacular World Cup of Racing, had to settle for a hard-fought second behind Postponed in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic. His task was made that much harder when he lost a front shoe on the way to the start which was unable to be replaced.

Fellow Japanese runner Last Impact, ran on gamely in the last two furlongs to clinch third place.