Real Steel made it two wins for Japan on the Dubai World Cup card March 26 when he ran down Very Special in the stretch and held off Euro Charline in the $6 million Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (UAE-I) at Meydan.
A son of leading Japanese sire Deep Impact, Sunday Racing Co.'s Real Steel won by a half-length after breaking from post 14 in the field of 15 and finished 2,410 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) on turf rated as good in 1:47.14. Team Valor's 2014 Beverly D. (gr. IT) victress Euro Charline, reluctant to load into the starting gate, finished a good-closing second.
Tryster was third as the 8-5 favorite in U.S. pools, two lengths back in the field of 15.
Flamboyant (12-1), winner of two graded stakes in Southern California this year, finished fifth with Brice Blanc aboard.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Ryan Moore, Real Steel came in off a third to gallant Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) runner-up Duramente in the Nakayama Kinen (Jpn-II) Feb. 28 and was second in the Kikuka Sho (Jpn-I, Japanese St. Leger) Oct. 25 at Kyoto. Saturday's victory marked his first win at the highest level. His record improves to 3-4-2 from nine career starts.
"He's a beautiful horse, he's got lots of quality," Moore said. "It was a big effort from the horse, he had a tough trip and was out wide but has toughed it out. He never runs a bad race. He's a very brave horse and has had to do it the hard way."
Ghaamer showed the way early, with Very Special in close pursuit and Real Steel in third, then fourth after spurting across the course to a prominent position. Very Special took charge coming off the turn and opened a clear advantage, but she could not hold off the winner and finished sixth.
Real Steel's dam is the Storm Cat mare Loves Only Me. He was bred in Japan by Northern Farm.
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