Tokyo City Keiba (TCK) will hold the Tokyo Daishoten (G1), the culminating event of dirt horse racing, on December 29 (Monday). The runners and post positions for the Tokyo Daishoten have been announced today.
This year's Tokyo Daishoten features a total of 16 horses: 9 from local racing and 7 from JRA (Japan Racing Association). The spotlight is on the emergence of a powerful 3-year-old generation, including JRA's Narukami (trainer Tanaka Hiroyasu), who won this year's Japan Dirt Classic (JDC), Naturalise (trainer Ito Keizo), who claimed the double crown of Haneda Hai and Tokyo Derby, and from local TCK, Night of Fire (trainer Watanabe Kazuo), who finished second in the Haneda Hai, and Seesaw Game (trainer Fujita Terunobu), who placed third in the Tokyo Derby.
Standing in their way are veteran horses such as JRA's Mickey Fight (trainer Tanaka Hiroyasu), winner of both the Teio Sho and JBC Classic, and Outrange (trainer Okubo Ryushi), who finished second in the Teio Sho. Additionally, TCK's Dicteaon (trainer Arayama Katsunori), who made history this year by winning Korea's Korea Cup (G3), challenges for the long-awaited victory by a local horse—a feat not achieved in 20 years. Gran Bridge (trainer Shintani Koichi), who has led the dirt mare division, will make her final run in this race.
This year's Tokyo Daishoten features the highest caliber of competitors worthy of closing out dirt racing in 2025. Will victory go to the experienced proven horses, or will the momentum carry the rising stars? Fans can look forward to this intense battle on the sand and a historic moment.
For detailed information on Tokyo Daishoten runners:
