Grand mare Gentildonna closed out her illustrious racing career on Sunday with an impressive win in the $3.45 million Arima Kinen, Japan's season-ending all-star race at Nakayama.
The 5YO mare duelled with Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia past the 200m and edged ahead to secure the win.
The three-year-old To The World came flying to take second with the 7-2 favorite Gold Ship third a nose away. Just A Way finished a neck back in fourth and Epiphaneia was fifth.
Gentildonna, the 8-1 fourth choice, was a popular winner of the race as the field is set by fan voting to select the 10 most popular runners.
The rest of the field is determined in order of earnings. This year's public favorite was 2012 Arima Kinen victor Gold Ship with Gentildonna, the only two-time winner of the Japan Cup, voted second fan favourite.
A retirement ceremony was held for Gentildonna at the conclusion of Sunday's racing. More than 40,000 of the on-track crowd of 115,878 stayed back to pay tribute to the outstanding mare.
In earning her seventh victory at G1 level, Gentildonna equalled a record only four other horses in Japan Racing Association history have accomplished including her sire Deep Impact.
Her career earnings of about $US14.3 million rank as the second highest in JRA history behind T.M.Opera O, and is the highest among females.
Gentildonna settled third, racing three to four lengths behind the two front-runners through the backstretch.She entered the lane in second, right behind Epiphaneia, who took charge from the tiring Verxina and then gradually wore down Epiphaneia and pulled clear late.
"I'm really glad she was able to show her best in the last race of her career," said Keita Tosaki, who was riding for trainer Sei Ishizaka.
"I was able to race her just as I had imagined, settling her towards the front and making use of her persistent late charge. She responded well until the end."
Gentildonna retires with a 10-4-1 career line from 19 starts that include G1 wins in the 2012 Oka Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), Yunshun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and Shuka Sho to sweep the Triple Crown for fillies and her unprecedented back-to-back Japan Cup victories in 2012 and 2013.
She was crowned Japan's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly in 2012 and champion older mare in 2013. Her record includes a G1 win in the 2014 Dubai Sheema Classic in March on the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan.
She posted three consecutive losses following her Meydan victory, and was fourth in this year's Japan Cup in her most recent start.
Northern Racing bred Gentildonna from English G1 winner Donna Blini, by Bertolini. She is a full sister to Japanese G3 winner Donau Blue.
