A crowd of more than 121,000 saw Gold Actor record a narrow win in Japan’s iconic season ending G1 race, the Arima Kinen, at Nakayama on Sunday.

Eighth pick Gold Actor captured his first G1 title and extended his current winning streak to four.

Gold Actor had won the G2 Copa Republica Argentina in Tokyo on November 8 and has won seven of his 13 career starts.

The winner’s sire Screen Idol is also responsible for Maurice, victorious in the G1 Mile Championship and G1 Hong Kong Mile in his last two appearances.

Though failing to make the three-year-old spring classics in 2014, Gold Actor recorded two consecutive wins and finished a respectable third in the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger).

Returning from an eight-month break in July this year, the four-year-old won three consecutive races including his first grade-race win in the G2 Copa Republica Argentina.

This win marked the first G1 title for his trainer Tadashige Nakagawa who opened his stable in 2006 and also for jockey Hayato Yoshida who debuted as a rider in 2004.

“It was my first time riding this colt at Nakayama but I knew that this course would suit him and having picked a good draw, I was able to ride him as I had imagined,” Yoshida said.

“We made a rather early move so I was praying that he would stay to the finish. He’s a smart horse and I knew that he had the ability to perform at this level.

“I took up this career to become a G1 winner and I am happy that my efforts finally paid off.”

A 16/1 chance, Gold Actor enjoyed a perfect ground-saving trip to beat Sounds Of Earth in the $US3.9 million feature over two miles.

Gold Actor took an early trail behind Kitasan Black, the last start winner of the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger).

Kitasan Black led around the final turn but soon had company from Marialite, who was staying on gamely despite a wide passage.

Gold Actor eased three wide at the head of the stretch, hit the lead about 100m from the finish and held on gamely as Sounds Of Earth took a dive at him late.

Kitasan Black held his ground to finish third just ahead of Marialite.

The crowd favourite and 2012 winner Gold Ship dropped to the rear in his usual style for the opening 1600m but had improved to be fourth at the final turn.

However the seven time G1 winner peaked on his run and faded to finish eighth in his final career start.

Lovely Day, winner of the G1 Takarazuka Kinen and G1 Tenno Sho Autumn and voted second to run in the race, finished fifth.