Diktaean Makes History in the Tokyo Daishoten, Restoring the Spotlight to the NAR Circuit

The veteran defeated favorite Mikki Fight at Ohi and became the first winner trained outside the JRA in two decades

Diktaean sprang the upset at Oi / NAR

TOKYO, Japan (Special to Turf Diario) — The Tokyo Daishoten (G1) delivered another pulse-pounding finish, this time with a historic twist. Diktaean, representing the NAR circuit, dug deep to capture Ohi Racecourse’s flagship event, becoming the first horse trained outside the JRA to win the race in 20 years. It was a result with real weight—and real reverberations—across Japanese racing.

The son of King Kamehameha, prepared by Katsunori Arayama, produced a smart, courageous performance. Settled mid-pack through the early stages, Diktaean secured the ideal trip by tracking heavy favorite Mikki Fight (Drefong) as the tempo lifted approaching the final turn. When Christophe Lemaire sent the market leader to the front early in the stretch, it looked decisive—but there was one more chapter to write.

Ridden by Takayuki Yano, Diktaean stayed locked on, never losing touch. Inside the final 200 meters, the veteran drew alongside the favorite and, refusing to yield, answered every call to wear down the younger rival and prevail by a neck. Outrange (Regalo) filled third, 1 1/2 lengths back.

The race also produced a pair of notable disappointments. Three-year-olds Narukami (Thunder Snow) and Natural Rise (Kizuna)—first and second, respectively, in October’s Japan Dirt Classic (L) over the same course and distance—could not replicate that form. Narukami, pressed close to a demanding early pace, faded to sixth, more than seven lengths adrift; Natural Rise, after setting strong fractions, weakened to finish 11th in the field of 15.

For Diktaean, the victory underscored a career peak at age seven. He had signaled his form in September with his first group success in the Korea Cup (G3) at Seoul, following a stable change earlier in the year. The Tokyo Daishoten marked his sixth stakes win overall—an endorsement of consistency and class.

The pedigree backs it up. Diktaean is one of four winners produced by Medeia (King Halo), herself out of Witchful Thinking (Lord Avie), a winner of the G2 Pucker Up S. The family also includes Lofty Aim (Sunday Silence), winner of the Fukushima Himba S (L), and extends to Smasher (Majestic Warrior), victor of the G3 Unicorn S.