Quick Read
- Regaleira became the first filly to win consecutive Arima Kinen titles in 2025.
- She received a record 612,771 fan votes, more than triple her 2024 total.
- The Arima Kinen is Japan’s richest turf race, with a winner’s prize of ¥500 million.
On December 28, 2025, Nakayama Racecourse transformed into a thunderous stage for the 70th Arima Kinen (G1), Japan’s beloved “Grand Prix” and the traditional climax to the country’s Grade 1 turf racing season. But this wasn’t just another championship. This year, the race carried the weight of history and the hopes of hundreds of thousands who cast their votes for their favorite contenders. The spotlight was fixed on Regaleira—a four-year-old filly whose journey had already rewritten the script for female competitors in Japan’s richest race.
Regaleira, sired by Suave Richard and representing Sunday Racing, entered the contest as the top ballot choice, gathering a record-shattering 612,771 fan votes—more than triple her previous tally and a testament to her growing legend. She returned to Nakayama after a year marked by setbacks and comebacks, determined to defend the title she seized as a three-year-old in 2024, when she became the first filly in 64 years to win the Arima Kinen. This time, the stakes were even higher: no female horse had ever captured consecutive victories in the race’s storied history.
The anticipation was palpable. The Arima Kinen, with its unique blend of sporting merit and fan selection, is more than a horse race; it’s a national ritual. Sixteen runners—culled from 22 nominees by popular vote—lined up for the grueling 2,500-meter turf test, battling for a winner’s purse of ¥500 million from a total pool of over ¥1 billion. The course itself is a crucible: two laps, two climbs, and a relentless demand for stamina and courage, making wide draws a distinct disadvantage and every stride a potential turning point.
Regaleira’s campaign in 2025 had been nothing short of remarkable. After her historic win in 2024, a fracture sidelined her for months, testing her resilience. She returned to competition in the Takarazuka Kinen, finishing a distant 11th, but quickly bounced back with a strong win in the Sankei Sho All Comers (G2) and then the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) in November, where she set a new stakes record. Her trainer, Tetsuya Kimura, and assistant Yu Ota worked tirelessly to fine-tune her performance, especially focusing on her break from the gate, a minor flaw noted in her last start. “She’s showing steady improvement,” Ota said ahead of the race. “Her muscle tone is good, she’s eating well, but the main concern is the gate. The start isn’t in front of the grandstand this time, which should make things easier.”
On race day, Regaleira faced a formidable field. Danon Decile, a Japanese Derby and Dubai Sheema Classic winner, posed a major threat, as did Museum Mile, the Satsuki Sho hero, and Meisho Tabaru, the Takarazuka Kinen winner. Yet Regaleira was the only female in the lineup, underscoring both her singular talent and the persistent gender gap in Japanese turf racing. French jockey Christophe Lemaire, now Japan’s leading rider, took the reins, adding another layer of anticipation.
As the gates flew open, the field surged into Nakayama’s punishing circuit, with fans holding their breath across the country. The contest was fierce, but Regaleira’s class shone through. She stayed patient through the first circuit, responded when asked, and powered home in the final stretch, holding off a late surge from Museum Mile and Danon Decile. Her win was decisive—cementing her status as the first filly ever to defend the Arima Kinen title, joining an ultra-exclusive club of repeat champions and breaking a barrier that had stood for more than half a century.
Regaleira’s repeat victory is more than a statistical milestone. It signals a watershed moment for female competitors in Japanese racing, inspiring new generations and challenging old assumptions about what’s possible on the turf. With three Group 1 victories in 2025, including the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Regaleira’s achievements have captured the imagination of fans and experts alike.
What comes next for Japan’s champion filly? With a resume that already places her among the sport’s elite, speculation abounds about her future campaigns. But regardless of what the next season holds, Regaleira’s back-to-back Arima Kinen wins ensure her legacy is secure—a symbol of resilience, excellence, and the power of fan support in Japanese racing.
Regaleira’s historic accomplishment, confirmed by official results from the Japan Racing Association and widely reported by outlets like BloodHorse and Thoroughbred Daily News, marks a turning point not only for her career but for the broader narrative of racing in Japan. Her repeat win, achieved against a field of elite male challengers, demonstrates that barriers in sport are meant to be broken—and that greatness, fueled by determination and public support, can redefine tradition for generations to come.