SHAHRYAR provided Japan with a remarkable fifth winner on the night in the $6 million Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, showing lots of heart to hold off the British challenge of Yibir in second and the eventual fourth-placed Pyledriver.

There were several hard luck stories, including Hukum who was short of room at a key stage, but there was no denying Shahryar. He will now be aimed at this year’s Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after providing Japan with a fourth victory in this race, though the first since Gentildonna in 2014.

Winning trainer Hideaki Fujiwara, who had just been denied in the Dubai Turf with third-placed Vin De Garde, said: “This horse was a winner of the Tokyo Yushun, the Japanese Derby, and that is as good a race as we have in Japan. I was confident that he wasn’t going to lose. It would be a dream for me to take this horse to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. It is the race we want to win and it would mean so much to be able to take him there. That is our ambition and our aim.

“It has been a great night for Japan and a great night for our stable with a first and a third. I am so proud of our horses.”

Winning jockey Cristian Demuro said of his mount: “Before the race I knew I wanted to be behind Authority, as I knew he would lead. We were able to get a nice position just behind him on the rail and when I pulled my horse out in the straight I knew he was going to win.

“For a moment he was a little lost in front, but we felt Yibir coming and I always believed we were going to get there. It is amazing to win a race like this. Amazing also to win on a Japanese horse. They are showing they are the best in the world.”