What can we learn from a thrilling Dubai World Cup meeting?

Dubai World Cup night managed to deliver both high drama and some quality performances, while relatively few of the main players failed to give their running.

The overall balance of probability is that most of the form will hold up through the year and that there is much to be gleaned as the European turf season begins to emerge from hibernation.

Yibir and Pyledriver mixing it with the best

Recent events at the Breeders’ Cup and the big-money meeting in Saudi Arabia gave every indication that Japanese horses were in for a big night and they duly delivered again on both turf and dirt.

Trainers may have refined a few things when travelling horses to these big international meetings but the key lesson they have drawn from past disappointments is that you have to send your best.

In the Sheema Classic alone, Japan fielded last year's Derby and Oaks winners, as well as the runner-up from the Japan Cup and a dual Hong Kong vase winner; Shahryar, Authority and Uberleben scooped first, third and fifth.

The days of being able to win at such gala events with anything other than what John Gosden referred to as the 'A team' are gone.

Yibir (royal blue) and Pyledriver (red cap) could be in for big seasons this yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

It is therefore hugely encouraging for the connections of both Yibir in second and Pyledriver in fourth that they should finish in close proximity to such horses and it would be no surprise if both were to add further Group 1s to their tallies this year.

Charlie Appleby nominated more trips to the US for Yibir, with the Man O'War Stakes at Belmont in May and the Breeders' Cup Turf being inked in, leaving the European stage clear for Hurricane Lane and Adayar.

Pyledriver added again to his reputation and, while he did not have quite the nightmare passage of Saudi Arabia, he still did not quite get the bounce of the ball.

He will need a break at some stage and he is the sort of horse people might easily forget in the heat of the early summer Classics. They should not.

One horse from further back that should not be written off is Alenquer, who travelled very kindly for Tom Marquand but could not quite go with the Japanese up the straight.

William Haggas now has to work out whether to keep to this trip or try again at a mile and a quarter on a softer surface. Either way, it was an encouraging performance.

Ronan Whelan coming of age

Being drawn on the Meydan sprint track’s golden highway aboard a Group 1 winner may sound like a steering job but for an emerging talent like Ronan Whelan, not making a mistake on the big days is the way to keep the established names at bay when it comes to riding horses like A Case Of You.

The 23-year-old clearly has plenty of big-match temperament and showed the confidence in himself and his mount to kick on earlier than he had planned to.

On his way out of the winner's press conference Whelan was modest enough to tell an admirer that you need the horses to win races such as the Al Quoz Sprint.

He is of course right, but every time he gets the job done in pressure situations the list of trainers and owners keen to use his services will only get longer, even allowing for the ultra-competitive nature of the current Irish weighing room.

A Case Of You and Ronan Whelan (grey silks) landed the Al Quoz Sprint on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Suesa among a number of luckless runners

With the turf races all boasting maximum fields there were bound to be some hard luck stories and Suesa's chance in the Al Quoz Sprint came to a swift end as those drawn out in the middle of the track dashed across to get nearer the favoured stands' side rail.

Having been handed a high number next to Man Of Promise, Suesa edged left early in the race and Olivier Peslier was powerless as the two groups converged in front of him at half way.

Francois Rohaut will be targeting Ascot next, where Suesa may have to face some serious opposition from Australia but the thought that she will not pick up a Group 1 victory at some stage this season is difficult to imagine.

Happy Romance is now a consistent performer at this level and also deserves her day in the sun. The draw was against her but given the way she finished off her race, connections might want to give thought to the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs in early August.

Ascot and the Arc: where will Japan's stars turn up next?

Yoshito Yahagi had been talking up the idea of an Ascot squad during the week, with dead-heaters Panthalassa and Lord North set for a potential rematch in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, while Stay Foolish is a possible for the Gold Cup.

Yahagi also talked about stepping Panthalassa up in trip for the Arc as he is effective on soft ground, though whether a mile and a half in such conditions would blunt his natural exuberance remains to be seen.

Yoshito Yahagi (right): could target Europe following more success on SaturdayCredit: Dubai Racing Club

Japanese trainers have struggled with the three-week turn around from the Arc trials to the big race itself, and there will be no shortage of racecourse suitors trying to persuade Yahagi that Panthalassa should be given a European summer and autumn campaign in the style of Deidre and El Condor Pasa.

The son of Lord Kanaloa would be a wonderful addition to the Juddmonte International and Yahagi’s new best friend, John Gosden, will be the first to tell the Japanese maestro that York into Longchamp never did Enable any harm.

Current superstar Efforia is expected to stay at home this autumn but Japan may have found another major challenger in Shahryar, whose trainer Hideaki Fujiwara could have had a Group 1 double if Vin De Garde had got out a stride earlier in the Turf.

The Arc is reportedly the target for Shahryar, who did not show an electric turn of foot so much as a sustained burst and who Cristian Demuro felt was idling after getting the better of Authority.

He is a player, though how Fujiwara and the trainers of every Japanese challenger – apart from Panthalassa – will be hoping for an end to the current three-year streak of testing ground Arcs.

Star broadcasters

The RMG and HBA-produced world feed of the card went to 40 broadcasters in a record number of countries, with the live action available on airlines and cruise ships as well as via Twitter in the Middle East.

Those that tuned in will have been able to follow lively and knowledgeable presentation form Nick Luck, Britney Eurton and colleagues.

As Frankie Dettori accepted the applause on Country Grammer following the World Cup, Eurton went to interview Doug O’Neill, trainer of runner-up Hot Rod Charlie.

In the few seconds available to her she wrangled the enthusiastic owners of the Boat Race syndicate into a line, as well as her cameraman, before delivering a pitch-perfect interview.

If British broadcasters can find a way of integrating either Eurton or form analyst Michelle Yu into even short recorded segments during Royal Ascot, they would be adding major talents to our screens.

Read more on Dubai World Cup night:

Country Grammer gives Frankie Dettori his fourth Dubai World Cup

Dead-heat drama as Lord North and Panthalassa share Dubai Turf spoils

'You probably think we're mad' - A Case Of You sends connections wild again

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets