$1,000,000 Group 2 UAE Derby (Sponsored by Jumeirah)
Andrew Hawkins
Japanese colt Wonder Dean will attempt to succeed where his compatriots have not as he eyes off the Kentucky Derby following his victory in the Group 2 UAE Derby, sponsored by Jumeirah.
Daisuke Takayanagi-trained Wonder Dean became the fifth straight Japanese winner of the UAE Derby, following Crown Pride (2022), Derma Sotogake (2023), Forever Young (2024) and Admire Daytona (2025). Each of them also went to Churchill Downs for the G1 Kentucky Derby but could not win; Forever Young went closest, just edged out by Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone.
Takayanagi finished fifth in that same Kentucky Derby with T O Password and can dream of the famous garland of roses with Wonder Dean after he stayed on stoutly under Cristian Demuro to take the UAE Derby.
Like his stablemate Commissioner King in the G2 Godolphin Mile earlier in the card, Bhupat Seemar-trained Six Speed set a ferocious tempo early that both exposed stamina and made it almost impossible for any horse beyond midfield to get into the race.
That was perhaps not an ideal scenario given Six Speed had his own stamina queries, but it served the purpose of putting most of his rivals under pressure – including Wonder Dean.
From a middle gate, Demuro bustled Wonder Dean early but he was outsped into the first turn and ended up midfield. Throughout, he was niggled by the Italian jockey but it meant that – approaching the 800m – he was able to race into second with momentum as others around him struggled.
As they approached the straight, it appeared a race in two – Six Speed three lengths ahead of Wonder Dean with fellow Japanese contender Pyromancer hard-pressed to hold down third five lengths away. And while Six Speed stuck to his guns resolutely, Wonder Dean was making ground with every stride as the pair pulled clear of the field.
In the end, stamina proved the difference; Wonder Dean was simply more stout than Six Speed. Two and a half lengths separated the pair at the line, with six lengths to Pyromancer in third.
It means that the last non-Japanese winner of the UAE Derby remains the remarkable globetrotter Rebel’s Romance, who has not raced on dirt since his 2021 triumph at Meydan.
Takayanagi said: “This is my first international success so I feel amazing. I was truly impressed by his performance. I was confident beforehand as I thought the extra distance would definitely help, and that Meydan would suit him.
“I was expecting the leader Six Speed to stop a lot earlier than he did and so I was a bit worried, but I always thought he would get there.”
Takayanagi is already planning the logistics for his second Kentucky Derby sojourn.
“Yes, of course (we will go),” he said. “We will go directly to America from here.
“Wonder Dean is developing physically and mentally all the time and I am very excited about what he can do in the future.”
Demuro hopes he can make his maiden appearance in the Kentucky Derby.
“I had a dream run around,” he said. “I was able to ride him how I wanted and although he didn’t have too much cover, he came there so easily and then really picked up well.
“If I am asked to ride in the Kentucky Derby it would be a first and a wonderful experience.”
A Kentucky Derby rematch may be on the cards as Seemar has his own plans to head to Churchill Downs with Six Speed.
“He just didn’t stay,” he said. “He doesn’t help himself. He’s got so much speed but he needs to learn to relax. The plan is to go to Kentucky Derby next.”
Added Barzalona: “We knew there was a chance he might not stay because he has so much speed, but I let him roll on the way he likes. At the end he was very tired and it was his heart that kept him in it.”
Result
1st – #2 WONDER DEAN (JPN)
Jockey: Cristian Demuro
Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi
2nd – #3 Six Speed (USA) – 2.42L
3rd – #1 Pyromancer (JPN) – 8.42L
4th – #6 Brotherly Love (GB) – 13.63L
5th – #7 Devon Island (USA) – 22.68L
6th – #9 Union Security (USA) – 25.21L
7th – #11 Lino Padrino (USA) – 11.77L
8th – #5 Salloom (USA) – 28.74L
9th – #8 Rammaas (GB) – 37.63L
10th – #4 Go Man (FR) – 40.42L
11th – #12 Labwah (USA) – 93.68L
Non-Runner – #10 Duke Of Immatin (USA)
