Japanese horses have been in a rich vein of form in recent overseas races as decades-long efforts to improve domestically bred thoroughbreds have narrowed the gap with horses bred in Europe and the United States.
Japan-bred horses won five of the nine races at March’s Dubai World Cup, including two Grade 1 turf titles. Last year’s Japanese Derby winner Shahryar won the 2,410-meter Dubai Sheema Classic and Panthalassa the 1,800-meter Dubai Turf.
“There are lots of good horses in Japan. We can win wherever we go in the world,” said Italian jockey Cristian Demuro, who won the Dubai Sheema Classic aboard Shahryar.