>>714973408
Good question. TM Opera O seemed to be 'weakening' around that time. Not long prior, he suffered his first ever loss to Meisho Doto (Takarazuka Kinen 2001) after beating them clean countless times before. I think he might've burned through all his talent during his legendary win-streak and what came after was a shadow of the legend. After all, he managed to lose to Jungle Pocket (Japan Cup 2001)after that, then came in fifth in the Arima Kinen (2001). The Legend of the Overlord had come to an end.