Dar Re Mi surged up the Meydan straight to fend off a super-strong group of turf champions to win the US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Guangsha Group.

The Japanese challenger Buena Vista produced the strongest finish just three-quarters of a way in second, with last year`s second Spanish Moon a desperately close third.

It was a superb effort from the Lady Lloyd-Webber-owned winner, especially as she had wintered in icy Britain and had not raced since her third in the Breeders` Cup Turf.

With Saudi Arabian-trained Deem in fourth it was a triumph for mares, filling three of the first four places. It was also a magnificent start to the partnership between Newmarket trainer John Gosden and 21-year-old jockey William Buick, with both trainer and jockey heaping praise on each other in post race press interviews.

American challenger Presious Passion pushed on as expected with Golden Sword lurking a few lengths back and the rest of the field content to sit well off the pace in the 2400m Group One event.

But the closers swooped early in the straight as that pair faded and, though Buena Vista did not have the cleanest of runs through, Dar Re Me was always just hanging on.

Buick said: “When I saw her earlier this month it looked as though she had spent the winter in California, not freezing cold England.

In the race itself she just kept getting better and better, and found an extra gear in the stretch.”

Trainer Gosden added: “It`s been a big night. She`s a remarkable filly to come from the cold and win out here especially from the 14 stall. I told William to get a nice position but to sit and chill on the bend as it`s a long way home and I`m delighted that he did not panic. That`s his first winner for me and hopefully the start of a long relationship.”

Of the placed jockeys, Ryan Moore looked particularly crestfallen that he had failed by less than a length on Spanish Moon to deliver the US$3 million first prize to owner Prince Khallid Abdulla and trainer Sir Michael Stoute, commenting: “This horse always does his best, he`s just found two horses too strong on the night.”