Satono Reve was the 2025 champion sprinter in Japan and made an early claim for the same title this year with a late rally to win the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs at Chukyo Racecourse on Sunday for the second consecutive year.
Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Satono Reve closed steadily from the middle of a field of 18 through the final quarter-mile. Satono Reve reached contention with a sixteenth of a mile remaining in the turf race, and won by two lengths.
Danon Bourbon, a Kentucky-bred colt by Maxfield, remained unbeaten after three starts with an important win in Saturday’s $227,800 Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.
The win may lead to a start in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2.
Danon Bourbon has earned 40 points in Japan’s four-race qualifying series, and is tied for first place on the list with Don Erectus, who finished second in the Fukuryu Stakes.
Only one runner from the Japan series will earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby.
Proven at 1 1/4 miles in Europe in recent years, Ombudsman showed he is just fine racing at 1 1/8 miles with a smart win in Saturday’s Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.
Ombudsman, who paid a mere $2.80 in American pools, closed from fifth in a field of 11 to win by two lengths over 9-1 Quddwah.
John Gosden, who trains with his son Thady, said Ombudsman was not in peak form for the $5 million Dubai Turf, the 5-year-old horse’s first start since October.
John Gosden described the win as a “big relief.”
It took more work than one might have imagined, but odds-on favorite Calandagan eventually wore down the longshot pacesetter West Wind Blows and won the Group 1, $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic on Saturday at Meydan Racecourse.
The trend continues.
Dark Saffron won the Group 1 Golden Shaheen for sprinters at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday for the second consecutive year.
In 2025, Dark Saffron was one of two 3-year-olds in the Golden Shaheen field and led throughout, paying $132.60 in American pools.
On Saturday, Dark Saffron won the $2 million Golden Shaheen with a similar style, racing near the front throughout. He was rated as an outsider again, paying $48.80.
The Dubai-based sprinter Native Approach repelled a late threat from Lugal of Japan to record a surprise win in Saturday’s Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.
Native Approach, ridden by Connor Beasley for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash, disputed the lead throughout and won the six-furlong Al Quoz Sprint by a neck over Lugal.
Fairy Glen, who struggled to win on turf for most of the last two years in low-level stakes for fillies and mares in Britain and France, has found a home in Dubai.
On Saturday, Fairy Glen won her second consecutive Group 2 race in a strangely-run Dubai Gold Cup at two miles.
The Dubai Gold Cup was the longest start for Fairy Glen, who has won 5 of 11 starts.
Ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Fairy Glen, who paid $22.40 in American pools, closed from a stalking position to win by a half-length over 8-1 Caballo De Mar.
Wonder Dean wore down pacesetting Six Speed and won the UAE Derby on Saturday at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, the fifth straight Japan-based winner of the 1 3/16-mile dirt race.
Since Rebel’s Romance won in 2021, the Japan-based horses Crown Pride, Derma Sotogake, Forever Young, and Admire Daytona have captured the UAE Derby. All have gone on to the Kentucky Derby – Forever Young was beaten two noses for third in 2024 – and that is the plan, as well, for Wonder Dean.
From West Virginia last summer to Dubai on Saturday, Banishing has won two major stakes in the last year for trainer David Jacobson.
The 6-year-old Banishing ended a five-race losing streak in Saturday’s Group 2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan Racecourse, the first Thoroughbred race on the Dubai World Cup program.
Ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, Banishing closed from third in a field of 12 to win by 2 1/4 lengths over local stakes winner Commissioner King. Banishing paid $8.20 in American pools, and was 6-1 with British bookmakers.
