Danon Decile fends off Calandagan in Sheema Classic

Danon Decile gave Japan a third Dubai Sheema Classic victory in four years after taking the Group One contest in fine style.

Charlie Appleby’s defending champion Rebel’s Romance’s was aiming to become the first horse to win Meydan’s premier mile-and-half race on two occasions and the seven-year-old took the initiative early on.

The son of Dubawi injected further pace with three furlongs to go to make it a stamina test for his rivals, but it was one which Shogo Yasuda’s charge passed with flying colours.

Danon Decile made his move with 300 metres remaining and extinguished Rebel’s Romance’s lead inside the final furlong.

Favourite Calandagan finished swiftly, but he was left with too much to do as he settled for a length-and-a-quarter second, with Durezza third and Rebel’s Romance fourth.

Winning trainer Yasuda said: “He performed a brilliant race for such a young horse. To gain this result in this environment is something very special. He seems better going left-handed and the plan went completely as we hoped.

“It’s not easy to come here and win and I really want to thank the jockey Keita Tosaki, he taught the horse how to race.

“Before the race, he was a little bit nervous and looking around at the other horses but once the race started, he was concentrating.”

Asked if a trip to the UK could now be on the agenda for Danon Decile, he added: “This win expands his opportunities and options, but we need to look after him and see how he comes out of this race, so we will see.”

Tosaki said: “My horse was a little bit nervous but travelled really well in the race. I knew the Sheema was a very strong race but he’s done it.”

Francis-Henri Graffard, trainer of Calandagan, admitted the French raider was beaten “fair and square” and suggested another crack at the Juddmonte International could be his major summer target, having been runner-up to City Of Troy at York last August.

“He’s a horse that needs time to get into his rhythm and Mickael (Barzalona) said he was happy tracking the winner into the straight,” Graffard said.

“He had the first kick and when we kicked, we finished the race off strongly.

“We were beaten fair and square on the night but Mickael will know him better in the future.”