Dubai: Japanese colt Wonder Dean, ridden by Cristian Demuro, secured victory in the $1,000,000 Group 2 UAE Derby, sponsored by Jumeirah, at the 30th Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Daisuke Takayanagi-trained Wonder Dean became the fifth consecutive Japanese winner of the UAE Derby. Previous winners include Crown Pride (2022), Derma Sotogake (2023), Forever Young (2024), and Admire Daytona (2025). Despite their successes in the UAE Derby, each of these horses went on to compete at Churchill Downs in the G1 Kentucky Derby but failed to secure a win. Among them, Forever Young came closest, narrowly losing to Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone.
Takayanagi expressed his elation, stating, "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." He further noted the ongoing development of Wonder Dean, both physically and mentally, and shared his excitement about the colt's future potential.