Omega Perfume Three-Peats in Tokyo Daishoten

Omega Perfume closed stoutly through the final 100 meters Dec. 29 at Oi Racecourse to land the Tokyo Daishoten for the third straight year.

The Daishoten, regarded as one of the top dirt events of the year, is listed as a grade 1 on the calendar of the National Association of Racing, a subordinate circuit to the Japan Racing Association. NAR tracks, administered by local authorities, specialize in dirt racing.

That does not prevent raids by JRA-based horses and their connections and Omega Perfume is a prime example. The gray 5-year-old, a son of Swept Overboard, has won on both circuits while compiling a record of nine wins, five seconds, and two thirds from 19 starts.

In his two previous starts, Omega Perfume had settled for second behind Chrysoberyl, arguably Japan's top dirt runner. Chrysoberyl did not contest the Daishoten, clearing the way for Omega Perfume's triple.

With Mirco Demuro riding for trainer Shogu Yasuda, Omega Perfume turned for home in the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) event outside a line of rivals but with a full head of steam. He got to even terms with Casino Fountain 100 meters from the finish and slowly worked by that rival, winning by a neck.

Westerlund and History Maker, two other JRA-based runners, were third and fourth as Omega Perfume finished in 2:06.9.

"I am very happy I did win for three times consecutively," Demuro said. "The numbers were kind of weak this time compared to the last two times out, but (the) race itself was a kind of tough one.

"He is a kind of horse who plays around if he breaks away too early, so, I rode thinking of many factors, including the pace," Demuro added. "Turning for home, I felt very good about him. The pace was a kind of slow, so I didn't want to go in front and wanted to stay back."

Yasuda said no plans have been made for Omega Perfume but added he would "like to give him some more worthy medals."

Omega Perfume's sire was successful for trainer Craig Dollase and owner J. Paul Reddam, winning eight times from 20 starts. The victories included the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park in 2002 and the Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Handicap (G1) the previous year at Santa Anita Park.

Standing in Japan, Swept Overboard also has sired Red Falx, winner of the 2016 and 2017 Sprinters Stakes (G1), and Rhein Spirit, third in that same race in 2018.