Mick Fire Closes to Win Japan Dirt Derby

Mick Fire (JPN) dominated 10 rivals in the Japan Dirt Derby July 12 at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo, winning by two lengths to remain undefeated after six starts. The victory also completed a sweep of the three races that in 2024 will be designated as the official Japanese Dirt Triple Crown. Turning for home, with 300 meters left in the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4 miles) Derby, the race looked in the bag for pacesetting Mitono O (JPN). The four-time winner, with Yutaka Take in the irons, was well in front of the field with Mick Fire and jockey Norifumi Mikamoto taking up the chase out wide on the track. It was Mitono O's first race at the distance and he began to labor while Mick Fire was building steam. The margin shrank and Mick Fire hit the front with authority. Kirinji (JPN) was up to take second by a neck over the tiring early leader, posting his second straight runner-up finish after two wins. Mick Fire, by Sinister Minister out of the Brian's Time mare Mariage (JPN), finished in 2:04.6 over a dry track. Mick Fire's previous victories had been achieved on the lead or close to it and Mikamoto said he'd hoped for a similar trip. "To the contrary, I was placed closer to the rear as I had a lot of pressure from both inside and outside. But the horse did not lose any momentum and focused on the race and kept going on to the end," he said. Representing the National Association of Racing circuit, Mick Fire has scored all six wins over the Oi dirt course, including the Tokyo Derby in his last outing June 7 in sloppy conditions. Seven of the winner's rivals came from the more prestigious Japan Racing Association circuit, where turf racing is the emphasis. The NAR, administered by local governments, emphasizes dirt racing and has seen a recent increase in significance as Japanese Thoroughbreds have found success on the world's dirt racing scene, including in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and the United States. Trainer Kazo Watanabe said he nearly lost faith as the field turned into the stretch. "Today was not very easy as he had strong JRA horses around him," Watanabe said. "I was watching the race with an uneasy feeling. To be honest, at the final turn, I felt we were done. But the jockey kept riding tenaciously and the horse responded to him." Among the vanquished in the Japan Dirt Derby were Goraiko (JPN), who finished sixth, and Omatsuri Otoko (JPN), who reported ninth, both with reputations. Goraiko, by Hokko Tarumae (JPN), showed promise winning the listed JBC Nisai Yushun at 2 but things went south in his 3-year-old debut as he reported fifth in the listed Hyacinth Stakes, a stop on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Undaunted, his connections sent him to Dubai, where he finished 12th in the UAE Derby (G2). Omatsuri Otoko, a Vittorio d'Oro (JPN) colt, won three of his first four starts, then was second in December in the listed Zen Nippon Nisai Yushun, another Japan Road race, behind only eventual UAE Derby winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) sixth-place finisher Derma Sotogake (JPN). Omatsuri Otoko did not live up to that potential and the Japan Dirt Derby was his fourth off-the-board finish.