Wonder Dean outstays Six Speed in UAE Derby

Mar 28, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Wonder Dean edges clear in the UAE Derby (G2) (Photo by Dubai Racing Club/Liesl King)

Japanese shipper Wonder Dean reeled in pacesetter Six Speed in Saturday’s $1 million UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan, the final leg of the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby, and both Triple Crown nominees booked their spots at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Daisuke Takayanagi for owner Yoshinari Yamamoto, Wonder Dean banked 100 points in the UAE Derby to top the Euro/Mideast Road leaderboard. His total stands at 106, including the points from his fourth-place effort in the Saudi Derby (G3). That came at a metric mile, and the stretch-out to about 1 3/16 miles on Saturday brought out the best in him.

Six Speed, on the other hand, found the added ground a bridge too far. The winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) over a metric mile, where he earned 20 points, he picked up 60 for his gallant runner-up finish in the UAE Derby. The Kentucky-bred ranks second on the leaderboard with 80 points, securing the other Euro/Mideast Road invitation, and trainer Bhupat Seemar confirmed that he’ll advance to Louisville.

Wonder Dean became the fifth straight UAE Derby winner for Japan, and sixth overall, following Lani (2016), Crown Pride (2022), Derma Sotogake (2023), Forever Young (2024), and Admire Daytona (2025). Forever Young came closest to Kentucky Derby (G1) glory, missing in a three-way photo, and Wonder Dean will try to achieve the historic breakthrough.

From the sire line of 1989 Kentucky Derby-winning Hall of Famer Sunday Silence, Wonder Dean is by Dee Majesty, a son of the great Deep Impact. Wonder Dean also has a Derby connection through his dam (mother), Wonder Siang Praw, whose sire, the prolific dirt campaigner Wonder Acute, is by 1999 Derby star and Horse of the Year Charismatic.

Wonder Dean benefited from a heady ride by Cristian Demuro. Breaking well to put himself into a good position in the opening strides, he dropped back on the clubhouse turn. But Demuro asked him to improve on the backstretch, in a key move that ensured he didn’t let Six Speed get too far away from him.

Indeed, Six Speed was cruising on the lead. The son of hot sire Not This Time was getting away from everyone but Wonder Dean on the far turn.

As Wonder Dean began to erase the deficit, his stamina came into play the further they went down the lane. Although Six Speed tried to dig in gamely, he could not withstand the relentless rally of Wonder Dean.

Edging away by about 2 1/2 lengths, Wonder Dean clocked 1:59.19 and returned $18 stateside.

“I had a dream run around,” Demuro said. “I was able to ride him how I wanted and although he didn’t have too much cover, he came there so easily and then really picked up well.

“If I am asked to ride in the Kentucky Derby, it would be a first and a wonderful experience.”

Another Japanese 3-year-old, another UAE Derby statement 👀🇯🇵

𝗪𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗡 secures 100 @KentuckyDerby points and has a place in the starting gate @ChurchillDowns on the 1st Saturday in May.

🌹 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/JNlbt63miW

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 28, 2026

Takayanagi reveled in his first victory on the world stage.

“This is my first international success, so I feel amazing,” the horseman said. “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.

“I was expecting the leader Six Speed to stop a lot earlier than he did, and so I was a bit worried, but I always thought he would get there.”

Six Speed deserves credit for his gutsy second.

“We knew there was a chance he might not stay (the distance),” jockey Mickael Barzalona said, “because he has so much speed, but I let him roll on the way he likes. At the end he was very tired, and it was his heart that kept him in it.'

“He just didn't stay,” Seemar said. “He doesn't help himself. He's got so much speed, but he needs to learn to relax. The plan is to go to Kentucky Derby next.”

There was a six-length gap back to favored Pyromancer, another Japanese shipper, who rallied for third (30 points) in the strung-out field. The Godolphin homebred also earned 20 points on the Japan Road when taking the Dec. 17 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun.

Brotherly Love checked in fourth (15 points for a total of 35), and Devon Island (10 points) rounded out the top five. Union Security, Lino Padrino, slow-starting Salloom (whose blindfold didn’t come off fast enough when the gate opened), Rammaas, Go Man, and the tailed-off Labwah concluded the order under the wire. Duke of Immatin was scratched.

Wonder Dean’s scorecard stands at 6-2-2-0. Fourth in his debut on turf, the dark bay won in his first try on dirt at Nakayama. Wonder Dean went on to place second to Pyromancer at Kyoto and to Rock Ptarmigan at Hanshin.

Both Pyromancer and Rock Ptarmigan captured stakes in their ensuing starts. Wonder Dean upheld the form with his solid fourth cutting back in distance in the Saudi Derby, and he took a step forward in Dubai.

Takayanagi is now bound for his second trip to the Kentucky Derby. His first experience came with T O Password, the Japan Road winner in 2024, who finished a commendable fifth at Churchill Downs.

“Yes, of course,” Takayanagi said of traveling for the Kentucky Derby. “We will go directly to America from here.

“Wonder Dean is developing physically and mentally all the time, and I am very excited about what he can do in the future.”