Clash Of Japanese Dirt Titans In Tokyo Daishoten

Sunday's ¥170 million (US$1.08 million) Toyko Daishoten is the lone Group 1 race on the calendar staged on the tracks of the National Association of Racing, but the 2000-metre event has lured the top five or six dirt horses in Japan and given the depth of the field, the horse that proves victorious should be able to make a case for challenging the recently retired G1 Champions Cup repeated Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) for champion dirt horse of 2024.

The globetrotting Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) makes just his second start in Japan this term, having won the G3 Saudi Derby and G2 UAE Derby ahead of his bang-up third in the GI Kentucky Derby. The son of Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes winner Forever Darling (Congrats) returned to easily defeat his peers in the Listed Japan Dirt Classic over Sunday's track and distance Oct. 2 and gave a good account of himself last time in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, sitting fairly close to the sharp pace before sticking on gamely for third. About all that is missing from his CV is an elite-level score, and he should go favoured to right that wrong this weekend.

“He's getting better all the time,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi told Netkeiba. “His mind continues to improve, he's gotten stronger and taller and gained weight. The opposition is strong and we can't afford to lose in Japan.”

【悲報】フォーエバーヤング(牡3)さん
能力が桁違いすぎて併せ馬にならない

最初単走かと思ったらすぐ並んで終われるとちぎり捨てる

その勢いのまま前で単走してた馬も抜いて
抜いた瞬間耳を立てる(流す)

シンエンペラーはよ併せてやってくれ#追切#東京大賞典 #エバヤン pic.twitter.com/j7bKjUpMOn

— ぺっぷ (@peppu0525) December 26, 2024

Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was fifth in the 2023 Classic before successfully defending his title in this event, but it feels a different story this time around. Despite adding over $6 million to his bankroll this season, the 7-year-old has yet to find the winner's circle in four tries. Second in the G1 Saudi Cup and G1 Dubai World Cup, he was runner-up in his Classic prep, but failed to land a blow at Del Mar, finishing nearly 15 lengths behind Forever Young's relative Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in 10th.

So spotty is his form that Yuga Kawada, aboard for Ushba Tesoro's biggest moments, has deserted for the commonly owned stablemate Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). The 2023 Champions Cup runner-up was fourth at Meydan as the lesser-fancied of the 'Tesoros' and was second to the re-opposing Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}) in the G3 OBS Korea Cup in September. He most recently went within a whisker of beating Lemon Pop in the Champions Cup four weeks back.

Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) won the Listed Hyacinth Stakes on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and G3 Unicorn Stakes earlier this year, but was soundly defeated into fourth when last seen in the Japan Dirt Classic.