DUBAI, March 27: Roses in May, trained by Dale Romans in the U.S. and ridden by John Velazquez, justified 11-8 favouritism to win the $6 million Dubai World Cup on Saturday.

Second place, three lengths away, in the 12-strong field went to Saudi Arabia raider Dynever (16-1) with U.S. trained Choctaw Nation (14-1) in third a length and a quarter away.

The winner took up the running with 800 metres left in the 2-km race and held on impressively to land the $3.6 million first prize.

The event, the sport’s richest, was the finale of a seven-race card with over $15 million in prize money up for grabs.

Roses in May had been fancied ever since finishing a good second to Ghostzapper in last October’s Breeders’ Cup Classic in Texas.

He dominated Saturday’s race and looked a real champion as he stormed up the straight and then held off the attentions of Dynever, ridden by Jose Santos.

Winning jockey Velazquez said: “He was fantastic today. He’s just getting better and better.”—-Reuters