On his first appearance as a four-year-old , Victoire Pisa started the 2/5 favourite for the Nakayama Kinen over nine furlongs on 27 February . He took the lead in the straight and won comfortably by two and a half lengths from Captain Thule . The colt was then sent to the United Arab Emirates to contest the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse on 26 March . The race was run over ten furlongs on a synthetic Tapeta footings surface and attracted runners from Britain , Ireland , South Africa , Saudi Arabia and the United States . Demuro restrained the colt in last place before moving up to join the leaders half a mile from the finish of a slowly run race . He took the lead in the straight and held off the challenge of his fellow Japanese challenger Transcend by half a length with Monterosso in third and Cape Blanco in fourth . Victoire Pisa became the first Japanese-trained horse to win the " world 's richest race " . The victory was an emotional one for the Japanese contingent , coming less than three weeks after the country had been struck by an earthquake and tsunami : Demuro returned to the winner 's enclosure in tears , whilst Katsuhiko Sumii said that he felt that " the whole country was behind me . " Victoire Pisa was sent to Europe again but did not contest any races after sustaining a series of leg injuries
earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
Victoire Pisa