sustained his first defeat as he came home sixth of the fifteen runners behind Kyohei, Taisei Starry, Persian Knight, Trust and My Style. After a break of two and a half months the colt returned for the Grade 3 Mainichi Hai (a trial race for the Satsuki Sho) over 1800 metres at Hanshin in which he was ridden by Kohei Matsuyama and started the 6.7/1 second favourite behind Satono Arthur in an eight-runner field. After racing in second place he took the lead in the straight and won by half a length from Satono Arthur with Kiseki half a length back in third. On 26 April, with Matsuyama again in saddle, started a 21.4/1 outsider in an eighteen-runner field for the 77th running of the Satsuki Sho over 2000 metres at Nakayama Racecourse. The filly Fan Dii Naa (winner of the Flower Cup) started favourite while the other contenders included Suave Richard (Tokinominoru Kinen), Cadenas (Yayoi Sho), Persian Knight, Rey de Oro, Win Bright and Satono Ares (Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes). After tracking the leaders in the early stages Al Ain turned into the straight in fifth place behind Clincher and began to thread his way to the front. Fan Dii Na took the lead, before giving way to Persian Knight but Al Ain maintained his run, gained the advantage in the final strides and won by a neck. Matsuyama, who was winning his first Grade 1 race said "I can't believe we won! He ran a strong race last time so I was quite confident today. He wasn't responding well in the last two corners but stretched really well in the straight. He's easy to ride so I think he'll have no problem with the extra distance in the Derby." Six weeks after his win at Nakayama Al Ain was stepped up in distance and started the 5.3/1 fourth choice in the betting for the 2400 metre Tokyo Yushun. After being slightly hampered early in the straight he stayed on well on the outside without ever looking likely to win and came home fifth behind Rey de Oro, Suave Richard, Admirable and My Style, beaten just over two lengths by the winner. Christophe Lemaire took the ride when Al Ain returned from his summer break to contest the Grade 2 St Lite Kinen (a trial race for the Kikuka Sho) over 2200 metres at Nakayama on 18 September. He