Plus Que Parfait beat fellow American shipper Gray Magician and Dubai-based Manguzi to win the Group 2, $2.5 million UAE Derby here at Meydan Racecourse. Jockey Jose Ortiz, riding in Dubai for the first time tonight, now has two winners on the card, this following Coal Front in the Godolphin Mile.

Trainer Brendan Walsh followed through on his plan to come to this race despite a poor performance from Plus Que Parfait in the Risen Star Stakes, adding blinkers and getting the colt back to his best 2-year-old form. Walsh said Plus Que Parfait, who earned 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, was likely to run in the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Trainer Peter Miller said Gray Magician would be considered for the race. Favored Divine Image faded on the far turn and was no factor in the homestretch.