Friday, 6 January 2012: Leading Japanese dirt performer Smart Falcon is heading to the Dubai World Cup after completing back-to-back successes in the Tokyo Daishoten, the top race on Japan's NAR local government circuit.
The six-year-old will bid to follow up Victoire Pisa's memorable victory for Japan in the world's richest race at Meydan on March 31.
The Daishoten was the first-ever NAR race open to overseas runners but once again was purely a domestic affair.
Hot favourite Smart Falcon took the lead as usual but had to show fighting qualities to hold off Japan Cup Dirt runner-up Wonder Acute. The 2009 Japan Dirt Derby winner Testa Matta took third.
SmartFalcon, a son of Gold Allure, is trained by Ken Kosaki and was winning his fourth G1 in a career of 22 wins from 32 starts.
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