Although both races have potential implications for the U.S. scene, their more immediate impact might well come on Dubai World Cup night, March 28.

W Heart Bond became only the second female to win the race formerly known as the Japan Cup Dirt.

The richest race in the world became a race for the ages on Saturday, as Forever Young and Romantic Warrior fulfilled hopes of an epic clash in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).

Japanese star Forever Young scored his first internationally recognized Group 1 victory in Sunday’s Tokyo Daishoten (G1) at Oi.

Godolphin’s Lemon Pop concluded his stellar career with a repeat victory in Sunday’s Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo, just lasting by a nose from the rallying Wilson Tesoro.

Koichi Shintani stablemates Crown Pride and Remake once again swept Seoul’s two major races on Sunday, this time earning free tickets to Breeders’ Cup events.

One year after the Koichi Shintani duo of Remake and Crown Pride accomplished a big-race double at Seoul, they return as defending champions on Sunday for even higher stakes.

Hitherto campaigned as a sprinter/miler, Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Laurel River vindicated trainer Bhupat Seemar’s bold decision to try about 1 1/4 miles in Saturday’s $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1).

Defending champion Ushba Tesoro will meet 11 challengers in Saturday’s $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan.

With last year’s champion, Lemon Pop, leading the Japanese charge on the Saudi Cup (G1), Sunday’s February (G1) at Tokyo had a more open look. Even so, few could have foreseen the magnitude of the upset in store.