Mikki Fight Emerging as Another Dirt Star in Japan

While Forever Young  awaits the second half of his season, another dirt-running star is emerging in Japan with an eye on potential international competition.

Mikki Fight , a 4-year-old Drefong  colt, took advantage of Forever Young's absence to post a determined victory in the Teio Sho July 2 at Oi Racecourse—his third win from his last four starts.

Sandwiched in that stretch was a third-place finish in the February Stakes (G1), one of the Japan Racing Association's premier dirt events. Mikki Fight also finished second behind Forever Young in the 2024 Japan Dirt Classic, a race the latter used as a prep for his third-place run in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Following orders from trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka, jockey Christophe Lemaire got Mikki Fight cleanly out of the gate 2 in the Teio Sho and gunned for the front.

"I discussed with him not to get boxed in, and to make a move around finding a path, putting much confidence in the horse as he does have his own ability," Tanaka said.

Mikki Fight shadowed the early leader, took the lead nearing the second turn and held on gamely, turning back a late bid by Outrange to win by a neck. Notturno  was third as the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) was timed in 2:03.1.

Wilson Tesoro  and Ramjet , the other international veterans in the 13-horse field, finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

"Right from the start, he was very composed and he maintained it through the backstretch," Lemaire said of Mikki Fight. "When the pace picked up, he continued to keep his rhythm and ran very smoothly. Coming into the stretch, he could have slowed down but he kept going on with his much ability.

"He is such a talented horse. I was expecting he would demonstrate his ability and he did."

Mikki Fight had an earlier win at the 2,000-meter distance but Tanaka admitted he had an anxious moment in the Teio Sho.

"Around the far turn, other strong contenders came on him and it looked like the race was going to be very tough. With a long straight from the final turn to the wire, I worried for a time but he maintained his advantage all the way to the wire."

Tanaka said Mikki Fight has matured since his 3-year-old campaign and could continue to improve. He hinted a return to the Japan Dirt Classic might be an immediate target.

"It was first time for the horse to run the race under the lights, but I believe his experience having had races under different circumstances really helped him. He is a horse with a strong mentality and he is, I believe, at his best in terms of physical and mental aspects.

"We had a big win here today, and there could be many plans to be drawn out for him in the future, including the options to race him internationally. However, I believe he is still in the progress of maturing physically and mentally," Tanaka said.

"I think, not being sure, we will aim to shoot for some big races domestically."

The colt was bred by Northern Racing and runs for Mizuki Noda. He is outrunning the top side of his pedigree as Drefong was the 2016 Eclipse champion male sprinter for trainer Bob Baffert, winning three grade 1 races including that year's Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). His dam, Special Groove , however, is a daughter of Special Week, who won top-level races out to 3,200 meters (about two miles) in the late 1990s.