The Japanese horses love the UAE Derby. After Crown Pride, Derma Sotogake and  Forever Young, winner of the top event last year,  Yukihiro Kato's Admire Daytona brilliantly piloted by Christophe Lemaire, in a pulse-pounding finish edged out British hopeful Heart Of Honour by the shortest of margins to the delight of the Japanese contingent. The thrilling victory earned the star performer a passage to the Kentucky Derby and the connections of Admire Daytona confirmed that the classy colt will compete in the Kentucky Derby.

"Kentucky Derby is such a difficult race to win. It is one of the most iconic races in the world and if you have earned a ticket to the event you surely must go," said Lemaire adding that it was too tight to call though he thought he had won. "The Japanese horses come into Dubai fresh from the home season and I think they like the Meydan dirt track too. And that's one reason they continue to perform to the best of their ability and consistently obtain good results here," said Lemaire.

A trifle disappointed that Heart Of Honour lost out  by the shortest of margins, trainer Jamie Osborne  said: He's produced his lifetime best and you need to be pleased when that happens whatever be the result. But this one is a tough one to swallow". So it was for his daughter Saffie Osborne, who in February became the first woman to win a race at Meydan before going down in a humdinger astride Heart Of Honour on the big night in Dubai.

Chris Lemaire pushed Admire Daytona to the front.soon after the nine runners came under the starter's flag for the nine furlongs dirt trip. Rafid followed the leader with Galactic Star close on the heels on Rafid, while Saffie Osborne guiding the fortunes of the favourite chose to bide her time content to race behind the leading group before Saffie setalight Heart Of Honour two furlongs from home. The British mainhope responding gamely to the master's call produced an astounding gallop and swooped down on the leader piloted in determined fashion by the leading saddle artiste Lemaire only to go down by the shortest of margins at the wire. It was a classic finish and the racing buffs provided both Lemaire and Saffie a standing ovation. Don In The Mood piloted by Ryusei Sakai finished third ahead of Shin Forever partnered by Akira who revealed that missing the jump cost him dear.