Museum Mile saved his very best for the final afternoon of the Japanese racing year, producing a devastating late run to land the 2025 Arima Kinen (G1) at Nakayama and confirm his status as one of the outstanding three-year-olds of the season.

Sent off as the third choice in the betting, the Leontes colt secured his second Grade 1 victory by reeling in his rivals in the closing strides of the 2,500-meter showpiece, Japan’s traditional year-end “All-Star” event. It was a fitting conclusion to a campaign that has tested both his versatility and resilience.

Museum Mile showed early promise as a juvenile, winning twice and finishing runner-up in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m). His three-year-old season began quietly with a fourth-place finish, before he announced himself on the biggest stage by capturing the Satsuki Sho (G1, 2,000m). A below-par sixth in the Tokyo Yushun (G1, 2,400m) followed, but the colt regrouped in the autumn, taking the St. Lite Kinen (G2, 2,200m) and then running a strong second—beaten three-quarters of a length—behind older opposition in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m).

In the Arima Kinen, Museum Mile was slightly slow away from gate four and settled well off the pace, racing around 11th or 12th in the early stages. Under Cristian Demuro, he tracked Danon Decile throughout, biding his time before swinging wide around the final two turns. Once straightened, the response was immediate. Museum Mile unleashed a powerful closing burst, clocking a time-tied fastest final three furlongs, and surged past Danon Decile before collaring Cosmo Kuranda in the final strides to win by half a length.

Cosmo Kuranda, sent out at long odds, produced a bold front-running effort. The Al Ain colt raced prominently, briefly contesting the lead early before taking control at the top of the stretch. He fought on bravely and was only denied close home, finishing second, a half-length ahead of the chasing pack.

Danon Decile, the second favorite for the second year running, enjoyed a smooth trip from gate nine and made steady ground while circling wide into the straight. His acceleration was eye-catching, but he could not resist Museum Mile’s late surge and settled for third, a neck behind Cosmo Kuranda.

Defending champion and race favorite Regaleira endured a difficult passage after breaking poorly and dropping toward the rear. Despite encountering traffic in the straight, she found a narrow gap late and finished strongly—matching the winner for the fastest final three furlongs—but her run came too late. She crossed the line fourth, half a length behind Danon Decile.

For trainer Daisuke Takayanagi, the victory marked his fourth JRA Grade 1 success, following Museum Mile’s Satsuki Sho triumph earlier in the year. For Demuro, it was a particularly satisfying moment. After losing last year’s Arima Kinen by a nose aboard Shahryar, the Italian jockey finally got his hands on the trophy, registering his seventh JRA-G1 win.

“This was revenge for last year,” Demuro said after the race. “Nakayama really suits this horse, and that made the difference. Once we came into the clear, I knew we could win.”

On the 70th running of the Arima Kinen, Museum Mile delivered a performance that will be remembered as one of patience, precision, and perfectly timed brilliance—an emphatic statement from a colt who finished the year exactly where he belongs, at the very top.