One of Japan’s most successful jockeys, Keita Tosaki hopes Danon Decile can upstage public sentiment and deny star mare Regaleira in the JPY1.09 billion (approx. HK$54.3 million) G1 Arima Kinen (2500m) at Nakayama on Sunday (28 December).

Tosaki has ridden Regaleira at her past four starts, including to victory in last season’s Arima Kinen, but has chosen to ride 2025 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) and 2024 G1 Japanese Derby (2400m) victor Danon Decile.

The Arima Kinen field is partially chosen by fan votes and Regaleira drew a record 612,771 votes as the horse the public most wanted to watch in the year-end championship contest as she bids to become the first mare to win the race in successive years.

Tosaki’s contentious decision paves the way for Christophe Lemaire to claim the prized ride on Tetsuya Kimura’s champion stayer, Regaleira, and he concedes the weight of public opinion is telling.

“Most people say, ‘You’re not riding Regaleira?’ To be honest, it’s a tough call. You do find yourself wishing that when you wake up tomorrow morning your body might somehow have split into two. Being able to agonise over a choice like this at this level is a luxury, though,” he said.

“I try not to be too aware of her. She got over 600,000 fan votes, right? I do feel like I’ve really let her fans down. Even so, the way (Danon) ‘Decile’ ran in Dubai is something I’ll never forget in my riding career.”

Explaining his rationale, Tosaki said of Danon Decile: “I’ve always thought he’s a horse with a huge amount of ability. I rode against him in the (2024) Derby on Justin Milano and I could really feel how strong he was.

“Then when I got the chance to ride him in Dubai, in the Sheema Classic, the power he showed there was just incredible.”

Danon Decile finished third in last year’s Arima Kinen behind Regaleira, who has seemingly soared to even higher levels of excellence after demolishing her opposition in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200m) at Kyoto on 16 November.

Among a field stacked with quality, Museum Mile – who won the G1 Satuski Sho (2000m) under Joao Moreira and finished second in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) to Masquerade Ball – will have plenty of support as he chases a second Group 1 under Cristian Demuro.

Other contenders with strong credentials include Justin Palace, Shin Emperor and Mystery Way, while 2023 Japanese Derby winner and 2025 G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) victor Tastiera is expected to be retired to stud after Sunday’s race.

Admire Terra and Meisho Tabaru are also likely to have plenty of supporters for one of the most anticipated races on the Japanese horse racing calendar.

The Arima Kinen is carded as S1-7 and will be run at 2.40pm (Hong Kong time) on Sunday, 28 December.