Japan racing received a much-needed shot in the arm when Victoire Pisa and Transcend dominated the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday night.

Victoire Pisa (4c Neo Universe – Whitewater Affair by Machiavellian) was aided by a superb ride from Mirco Demuro.  The Italian hoop took advantage of a pedestrian pace to race around to field and sit outside Transcend.

In a finish reminiscent of the 2006 Melbourne Cup, the Japanese visitors spearheaded an historic quinella in the US$10 million Dubai World Cup.

And in a poignant reminder of Japan’s catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, Sheikh Mohammed embraced emotional connections who were balancing the euphoria of the victory with the devastation back home.

Victoire Pisa was a G1 winner of the 2010 Japanese 2000 Guineas and Arima Kinen and he opened 2011 with a comprehensive success in the G2 Nakayama Kinen.

But there were queries on his away form after unplaced runs in the G2 Prix Niel and G1 Arc de Triomphe last year.  Plus, he was starting on a synthetic surface for the first time.

“We always believed in him,” Demuro said.  “He’s a very nice horse and we were hoping to do well.  But to win is amazing.”

Victoire Pisa has now amassed US$12.89 million from a 13: 8-1-2 scorecard.  He is trained by Katsuhiko Sumii for owner Yoshimi Ichikawa and is from the second crop of 2003 Japanese 2000 Guineas and Derby winner Neo Universe.

His dam Whitewater Affair was exported to Shadai Farm in 1999 after winning the Prix de Pomone and St Simon Stakes for Sir Michael Stoute.  She is by Machiavellian from Bustino mare Much Too Risky who has an Australian link through her G1 winning half-brother Marooned (Mill Reef).