Real Steel (Japanese: リアルスティール, Hepburn: Riaru Sutīru; foaled 1 March 2012) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After winning his only race as a juvenile in 2014 he developed into a top-class performer in the following year when he won the Kyodo Tsushin Hai and finished second in the Spring Stakes, Satsuki Sho, St Lite Kinen, and Kikuka Sho as well as running fourth in the Japanese Derby. He reached his peak as a four-year-old in 2016 when he won the Dubai Turf and ran second in the Tenno Sho. He remained in training for two more years, winning the Mainichi Okan in 2017 and running third in the 2018 Dubai Turf.

Real Steel is named after the 2011 film of the same name.

Real Steel is a bay horse standing 1.67 metres high, with a white star and four white socks bred in Hokkaido, Japan by Northern Farm. During his racing career he was owned by Sunday Racing and trained by Yoshito Yahagi.

He was from the fifth crop of foals sired by Deep Impact, who was the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2005 and 2006, winning races including the Tokyo Yushun, Tenno Sho, Arima Kinen and Japan Cup. Deep Impact's other progeny include Gentildonna, Harp Star, Kizuna, A Shin Hikari, Marialite and Saxon Warrior. Real Steel's dam Loves Only Me, a half-sister to Rumplestiltskin, was trained in Ireland but never raced and was exported to Japan after being sold for $900,000 at Keeneland in November 2009. She was a granddaughter of the outstanding racehorse and broodmare Miesque. Loves Only Me has also produced Real Steel's full sister Loves Only You, winner of the Yushun Himba, Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the Hong Kong Cup.

Real Steel began his racing career on 27 December 2014 when he contested an event for previously unraced juveniles over 1800 metres at Hanshin Racecourse. Running on firm ground he won by more than three lengths from Liberator.

For his three-year-old debut Real Steel was stepped up in class to contest the Grade 3 Kyodo Tsushin Hai (a trial race for the Satsuki Sho) over 1800 metres at Tokyo Racecourse on 15 February and started the 5.1/1 second favourite behind Sunday Racing's other runner Duramente. Ridden as in all of his race that year by Yuichi Fukunaga he won by half a length from Duramente with Ambitious in third place. Five weeks later at Nakayama Racecourse the colt started favourite for the Spring Stakes but in a slowly run race he was beaten a neck by Kitasan Black with third place going to Danon Platina. In the Satsuki Sho over 2000 metres at Nakayama on 19 April Real Steel briefly took the lead in the straight before being overtaken and finishing second to Duramente with Kitasan Black in third and the favoured Satono Crown coming home sixth. The colt was then stepped up in distance for the 82nd running of the Tokyo Yushun over 2400 metres at Tokyo on 31 May in which he started second favourite and came home fourth behind Duramente, Satono Rasen and Satono Crown.

After a break of almost four months, Real Steel returned on 27 September for the Kobe Shimbun Hai (a trial race for the Kikuka Sho) over 2400 metres at Hanshin. Starting the odds-on favourite he raced in mid-division before finishing strongly but was unable to catch Lia Fail and was beaten two lengths into second place. On 25 October the colt was made second favourite for the Kikuka Sho over 3000 metres at Kyoto Racecourse. After tracking the leading group he moved into contention entering the straight but despite producing an "impressive kick" in the last 200 metres he failed by a neck to overhaul Kitasan Black.

In the 2015 World's Best Racehorse Rankings Real Steel was given a rating of 116, making the 139th best racehorse in the world.