SARGA.CO – On the chilly Nakayama track toward the end of the year, Museum Mile showed no signs of haste. While several horses immediately fought for the lead in the 70th Arima Kinen, the three-year-old colt chose to wait—almost as if he knew that the biggest races are often won by those with the greatest patience.
Under the guidance of Italian jockey Cristian Demuro, Museum Mile stayed near the back of the field for most of the 2,500-meter race. The crowd’s attention was largely focused on the early leaders and pre-race favorites. Everything changed, however, as the field entered the final turn.
Demuro gave the signal. Museum Mile responded. With long strides and plenty of energy still in reserve, he surged down the outside, overtaking his rivals one by one. In a few decisive seconds, he passed Cosmo Kuranda and reached the finish line first by half a length, sealing victory in one of Japan’s most prestigious races.
For Demuro, the moment was deeply personal. A year earlier, he had come agonizingly close to winning the Arima Kinen, only to be narrowly beaten by Regaleira in a photo-finish defeat. This time, history was on his side.
“This feels like revenge,” Demuro said after the race, referring to the painful loss the year before.
The win also marked Museum Mile’s second Grade 1 title of the 2025 season, following his triumph in the Satsuki Sho last April. The achievement confirmed his consistency and status as one of the finest horses of Japan’s younger generation.
The Arima Kinen is notoriously unforgiving for young horses. Its long distance, demanding track, and seasoned competitors often prove too much. Museum Mile, however, answered every doubt with a smart racing strategy—conserving energy before launching his attack at exactly the right moment.
Behind him, Danon Decile finished third, while pre-race favorite Regaleira, who was aiming for consecutive victories and history as the first filly to win the race twice in a row, had to settle for fourth place.
With a top prize of 500 million yen (approximately IDR 53 billion), Museum Mile closed out the Japanese racing season in the best possible way. More than just prize money and trophies, this victory signaled the emergence of a new star in Japanese horse racing—a horse that is not only fast, but also intelligent in reading the race.
(Source: kyodonews.net)
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