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In the end, it was only a nose that denied globetrotting superstar Romantic Warrior victory in the Dubai Turf

It was a dramatic and titanic finish, the battle of the seven-year-olds with the horse from the land of the rising sun, Soul Rush, denying Hong Kong's globetrotting superstar Romantic Warrior victory as the Japanese challenger swooped late to claim the prize in the very final stride of a pulsating Dubai Turf.

As the pair returned to the enclosure, the tension mounted and, after a lengthy delay, the judge was eventually able to split the pair – it was number nine called the winner. The margin was a nose. Soul Rush avenged his loss to Romantic Warrior in the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen last June.

Jockey Cristian Demuro punched the air as number was confirmed and semaphored.

It was only November last year, as a six-year-old, that Soul Rush won his maiden Grade 1 in the Mile Championship at Kyoto. He then confirmed the win was no fluke, finishing second to Voyage Bubble in the Hong Kong Mile in December.

Romantic Warrior, the world's richest racehorse, broke smartly, and James Mcdonald placed him second behind Japanese pacesetter Meisho Tabaru. On straightening, he was asked to respond, however, he was not able to move clear from rivals but always held an advantage.

At the same time, from back in the field, Soul Rush was working his way past rivals before going into top gear in the final 200 metres. In what was going to be a memorable finish, Romantic Warrior appeared to rally as he felt the presence of his rival coming at him, and as the judge called a halt, both horses were in full flight.

Soul Rush was given the nod where it counts.

McDonald was brief in his obvious disappointment once the number went into the frame: "No, I didn't know (if he'd held on). Close, wasn't it? He's had a long campaign. He ran his heart out"

Japanese-trained horses have now won five of the last ten runnings of the Turf. For trainer Yashutoshi Ikee, this was his most important success outside Japan.

Third in the race, beaten one-and-a quarter lengths was the William Haggas trained Maljoom after having been last for the greater portion of the race.

French-based, Italian-born jockey Demuro, who rides in Japan during the European off-season, said: "Last year, I was beaten by a nose (on Namur, second to Facteur Cheval). This year, I won by a nose. The luck was with me today. It's as good a performance as he's ever produced; he beat the best horse in the world today. He travelled well and he fought until the end. I'm so happy.

"Last year, I thought I had won until the last second. I just waited until the number went up. This year, I was surer that I had won but I didn't want to get ahead of myself. It is a special win because we are now part of the Romantic Warrior story; he doesn't lose many races, but today, he found a good horse.

"Dubai World Cup night is the most special meeting. I'm very happy to come back here every year. I'm very lucky to get to ride some good horses every year, and I've had some success here."

British-based horses ran honourable races with Tom Marquand full of praise of the performance of Maljoom:

"It was a huge run. He's a very talented horse, and he's proved that in the past. It's just getting the run right with him. We've tried sitting closer and being more aggressive, and it doesn't work; we have to bide our time. There was one split up the straight that might have been the difference, but it's just great to have him back running at such a high level. Hopefully, we can have a fun year with him now."

Clive Cox's four-year-old Ghostwriter jockey Rossa Ryan said: "It was a good run. We were beaten by three hard and fit horses. The horse has grown up a lot. I could see him having a good campaign travelling because he enjoys quick ground. A mile and a half might be on the cards in time.

Charlie Appleby's Nations Pride finished ninth, with William Buick explaining: "He missed the start, and he was forced back. We switched to Plan B, and it didn't suit him."

Last year's winner, Facteur Cheval, ran his race in patches and finished sixth, beaten three-and-a-quarter lengths. Jockey Maxime Guyon reflected:

"We had a bad draw, but we had a good race. He kept trying in the home straight."