King Mickey Fight or Local Hero Dicteon? An Analysis of Top Contenders’ Bloodlines.
The Tokyo Daishoten (GI), the grand finale of the 2025 dirt racing season, unfolds on December 29th at Ohi Racecourse. Top contenders gather, including JRA’s Mickey Fight, local champion Dicteon, and 3-year-old rising star Natural Rise. We’ll break down the race, analyzing the Ohi 2000m course, recent form, and key bloodlines to find the winning edge.
The Tokyo Daishoten, deciding the 2025 dirt champion, is held on Dec 29th at the challenging Ohi 2000m course.
Top-ranked Mickey Fight is in prime condition to seize the GI title with his main rival absent.
Local hero Dicteon aims to defend his home turf at Ohi against formidable JRA challengers.
3-year-old Natural Rise, leveraging his recent 2nd place finish, looks to usher in a new generation.
Several horses with compelling pedigrees will compete, including Houou Roulette, whose brother Omega Perfume is a legend of this race.
The Tokyo Daishoten is run over Ohi’s 2000m (right-handed, outer course). It’s a tough track with a long straight that demands both stamina and sustained speed. There’s nowhere to hide here; true ability is what counts.
Looking at this year’s lineup, prominent front-runners like Natural Rise, Narukami, and Mickey Fight are set to contest the lead. Meanwhile, closers such as Dicteon, King’s Sword, and Outrange will be biding their time, looking for the perfect moment to strike. Pacing and timing will be critical factors in determining the winner.
Considered the closest domestic challenger to world champion Forever Young, this is a must-win race for him with his main rival absent. His recent training has been flawless. In his final workout on Dec 25th, he clocked 81.3 for 6F, 36.8 for 3F, and a sharp 11.5 for the final furlong. The camp has commented, “He’s in peak condition” and “We have no concerns,” signaling clear skies for his GI title bid.
This 7-year-old local hero is in the form of his life, having won the Korea Cup (GIII) in September. Although he finished 4th in the Teio Sho, he was coming off a layoff and seemed a bit sluggish. This time, he has the home-field advantage at Ohi. His Dec 24th workout was powerful, clocking 62.7 for 5F and 36.3 for 3F. Expectations are high for him to represent the local circuit and repel the JRA challengers.
A standout in the 3-year-old generation. Though his Triple Crown dreams were dashed, he proved his high-class ability by securing 2nd place from a difficult outside gate in the Japan Dirt Classic (Jpn1). He has been specifically prepped for this race, showing excellent speed in his Dec 25th workout with a 52.3 for 5F and 11.7 for the final furlong. Adjustments in his training have addressed his tendency to drift right, making him a serious threat for an upset.
On a demanding course like Ohi 2000m, pedigree can be a crucial indicator. Here’s a look at the bloodlines of the key contenders.Mickey FightNatural RiseDicteonKing’s SwordHouou Roulette
The 2025 Tokyo Daishoten is shaping up with the proven Mickey Fight as the likely favorite. However, the field is deep with threats, including the local hope Dicteon, the rapidly improving 3-year-old Natural Rise, and dark horses with compelling bloodlines like Houou Roulette. A thrilling drama is set to unfold at the year-end spectacle at Ohi. Don’t miss a moment of the action.
See the final picks and detailed betting analysis here:View Full Predictions on netkeiba.com