Top Japanese Dirt 3-Year-Olds Face Off in Group 1 at Oi

Forever Young  won't be young forever but there's no shortage of talented and slightly younger Japanese dirt specialists who look capable of following the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner onto the international scene.

Two of those 3-year-olds, Natural Rise  and Narukami, renew a rivalry Dec. 29 in the Tokyo Daishoten (G1) at Oi Racecourse on the National Association of Racing circuit.

Natural Rise, a Kizuna  colt, was on the fringes of the global dirt circuit in 2024 when he won the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse, the first leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. His connections backed off that quest when he finished fourth in the second race in the series, the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, in his next start.

Instead, Natural Rise retreated to Oi, where he reeled off three straight wins for trainer Keizo Ito while moving up in trip from the 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) of the Zen-Nippon to the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) of the Tokyo Derby June 11.

That streak came to an end in the Japan Dirt Classic Oct. 8 when he spotted Narukami a big lead heading into the Oi stretch and wasn't able to make up much ground in the final 100 meters, finishing second. Those two, however, were far superior to the rest of the competition.

Narukami, a Godolphin homebred by Thunder Snow , has competed primarily at Japan Racing Association tracks, albeit on their dirt surfaces, and compiled a similar record to Natural Rise's—until his most recent, and most ambitious, effort.

The colt had five wins from six starts, including the Japan Dirt Classic, when he lined up as favorite against many of Japan's best, including some grizzled veterans, in the Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo Racecourse Dec. 7. He gave it a go, racing just back of the leaders, but faded in the late going to finish 13th.

The embattled 3-year-old duo does face some older competition again in the Daishoten.

Mikki Fight , a 4-year-old by Drefong , finished second to Forever Young in the 2024 Japan Dirt Classic. He started 2025 with a good third in the prestigious February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse and is undefeated in three subsequent starts. In the last, he won the JBC Classic at Funabashi Racecourse by 3 lengths over the talented Meisho Hario .

Christophe Lemaire, who recently wrested the top spot in Japan's jockey standings away from rival Keita Tosaki, rides Mikki Fight. Tosaki is booked to accompany Narukami in the Daishoten. Takeshi Yokoyama is named on Natural Rise.

Ho O Roulette, a 6-year-old son of Roses in May, is on an upward trajectory after finishing second in a listed event Aug. 23 at Niigata Racecourse, then winning the Sirius Stakes (G3) at Hanshin Racecourse, and another listed heat Nov. 26 at Urawa Racecourse.

The growing intensity of competition reflects an increased emphasis on dirt racing by the entire Japanese racing establishment, centered at the NAR circuit, administered by local governments.

That effort has been supported by Japanese purchases of top mares from the United States and other jurisdictions with top-quality dirt programs. And it has had the greatest possible boost from the success of Forever Young in winning the 2024 Saudi Derby (G3) and UAE Derby (G2), and the 2025 Saudi Cup (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Dirt racing also benefits from some structural changes in the Japanese schedule.

Had Natural Rise won the Dirt Classic, he would have been the become the first horse to complete the Dirt Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, which was introduced in 2024 specifically to boost the local image of dirt racing.