Buena Vista grew the wings of Pegasus in the 142nd Tenno-sho on Sunday, the 4-year-old filly soaring to victory in the 2,000-meter Emperor's Cup for her fifth Grade 1 title.
The overwhelming first choice didn't disappoint the crowd of 83,900 at Tokyo Racecourse as Buena Vista won by two lengths ahead of 3-year-old Pelusa in a time of 1 minute, 58.2 seconds on slightly heavy going.
"Today, she looked like she has some wings coming out of her back," said jockey Christophe Soumillon, who won his first Grade 1 race in Japan and became just the second foreigner to win the Tenno-sho after France's Olivier Peslier.