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The victory was Silver Ratio’s first JpnI G1 title and his second graded win of 2026, following his success in the Unicorn Stakes. The three-year-old colt, trained by Kenji Nonaka, now has 4 wins from 9 starts.

A Late Surge at Ohi

Silver Ratio settled toward the back early on as the field made its way around Ohi’s outer dirt course. Rather than rushing him forward, Yokoyama allowed the colt to find his rhythm before moving closer around the third and fourth turns.

As the field straightened, Silver Ratio was brought to the outside and unleashed his finishing kick. Wonder Dean had already moved into a strong position and looked capable of holding on, but Silver Ratio closed the gap and eventually swept past to win by one length.

The official winning time was 2:04.0 on good ground. Cherry Vent was another three lengths behind Wonder Dean in third, while Sun Lazar finished fourth. Finger, attempting to complete the new Dirt Triple Crown after winning the Haneda Hai and Tokyo Derby, faded in the straight to finish ninth.

Making the Most of a Substitute Ride

The victory was particularly notable for Takeshi Yokoyama, who rode in place of the colt's suspended regular rider, Mirai Iwata. He had already worked with Silver Ratio in training and received information from Iwata about the colt's tendencies, though he had never ridden him in a race before.

Following in His Father's Footsteps

Silver Ratio's victory carries an interesting historical connection. Out of Silver Posie, a daughter of Kurofune, he is a son of Le Vent Se Leve, the 2018 winner of the Japan Dirt Derby. The race itself was later transformed as Japanese dirt horse racing underwent a major restructuring.

From 2024, the former Japan Dirt Derby became the Japan Dirt Classic, moving from July to October and becoming the final leg of the new three-year-old Dirt Triple Crown alongside the Haneda Hai and Tokyo Derby. The winner also receives an automatic berth in the JBC Classic.

Eight years after his father's Japan Dirt Derby triumph, Silver Ratio has now won the race's modern successor with a similar late surge. He had already shown real ability before Wednesday's victory, finishing second to Finger in the Tokyo Derby after recording the fastest final three furlongs, before winning the runback.

End of a Dirt Triple Crown Dream

While Silver Ratio celebrated, Finger's bid to become the first winner of Japan's new Dirt Triple Crown ended.

Finger had won both the Haneda Hai and Tokyo Derby earlier this year, but his campaign took him overseas when he travelled to the US for the Pacific Classic. He finished last of 11 in that G1 and returned to Japan for the Japan Dirt Classic.

With Ryusei Sakai taking over in the saddle, Finger went forward from the start and battled Itterasshai, ridden by Finger’s own usual jockey Keita Tosaki, for the lead. The aggressive pace eventually took its toll, however, and both faded in the straight.

The result means the new domestic Dirt Triple Crown remains without a winner after its first three editions. It has already produced some fascinating storylines, yet the allure of major international races in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and the US continues to make its completion a difficult prospect.

But for Silver Ratio, the Japan Dirt Classic represents something much more straightforward: a first JpnI G1 crown, a breakthrough victory for his substitute rider, and another chapter in the legacy of Le Vent Se Leve.

And if Silver Ratio continues to develop as Yokoyama believes he can, this may be only the beginning of his own story.