Museum Mile Ruled the Arima Kinen and Finished the Year on Top

The son of Leontes unleashed a devastating late kick at Nakayama Racecourse, capturing his second Grade I victory in the Japanese turf’s “All-Star” Grand Prix

Museum Mile Shone in the Arima Kinen, Capping a Perfect Year / JRA

NAKAYAMA, Japan (Special to Turf Diario)— The Arima Kinen celebrated its landmark 70th running with a thrilling finish and a new star atop the mountain, as Museum Mile, third choice in the wagering, asserted his class to capture Japan’s season-closing Grand Prix. The victory marked his second Grade I success and confirmed his standing as a defining horse of his generation.

The son of Leontes, partnered by Cristian Demuro, capped a campaign built on consistency and progression. A standout at two—posting two wins and a runner-up finish in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1)—Museum Mile took the decisive step forward in 2025. He landed the Satsuki Sho (G1), finished sixth in the Japanese Derby, then surged through the second half of the year with a victory in the St. Lite Kinen (G2) and a narrow 3/4-length second in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1), his first clash with older horses. The Arima Kinen proved the perfect synthesis of that evolution.

The race itself was anything but straightforward. Breaking from gate four, Museum Mile was a touch slow into stride and dropped to the rear, settling between 11th and 12th while biding his time. For much of the journey he tracked Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) as the field bunched on Nakayama’s demanding layout. Turning for home, Demuro angled wide—and there the colt unleashed his signature weapon.

Producing a devastating late surge—posting the joint-fastest final 600 meters alongside the favorite—Museum Mile mowed down rivals in sequence. He collared Danon Decile, then reeled in Cosmo Kuranda (Al Ain) in the closing strides to score by half a length, igniting the grandstands at Nakayama Racecourse.

“I’m very happy to win this race—it feels like revenge for what happened in 2024,” said Demuro, who had missed the 2024 Arima by a head. “I followed Danon Decile the whole way; he opened the door for us in the stretch, and once we tipped out I knew we could beat him. My horse loves Nakayama, and that was a big advantage. Winning the Arima on its 70th anniversary is truly special.”

Cosmo Kuranda ran a brave race in second, seizing control at the top of the stretch and carrying the fight deep before yielding with honor, while Danon Decile once again proved resolute, finishing third after a sustained rally that kept him in contention until the final 50 meters.

Defending champion Regaleira (Suave Richard) endured a tough trip. A poor break left her well back, traffic hindered her run, and though she produced the fastest closing split in the final 100 meters, the move came too late and she settled for fourth, a half-length behind the third finisher.

For trainer Daisuke Takayanagi, the triumph represented his fourth G1 in Japan, while for Demuro it was his seventh JRA-G1 of the season—coming just a week after his Asahi Hai victory aboard Cavallerizzo (Saturnalia).

On the most popular and punishing stage in Japanese racing, Museum Mile authored the finest chapter of his career and closed the year at the summit—leaving the clear impression that his name will continue to loom large on the sport’s biggest days ahead.