POLAR River’s unbeaten run came to an end when the filly was denied by the Japanese runner Lani in the UAE Derby, a Group 2 race. Another Japanese runner Yu Change was third. The runner-up could be considered somewhat unlucky to be beaten, given that Pat Dobbs was denied an early challenge as the field turned into the straight.

However her trainer Doug Watson was far from despondent. “She was tight for room at a critical point after the turn-in.