Australian jockey Craig Williams came within a neck of winning Sunday’s Japan Cup aboard Tosen Jordan who was overhauled in the final strides by Buena Vista.
Williams had Tosen Jordan in a handy position throughout the 2400m race after crossing over early from the outside alley.
He took the lead inside the final 100 metres and fought hard when challenged by Buena Vista to no avail.
Jaguar Mail ran third while Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream failed to show the same dash as she did in Paris and finished sixth.
The win by Buena Vista in the Y480,920,000 ($A6.42 million) race was a popular one and made up for the disappointment of 12 months ago when she was first past the post but lost on protest.
The mare was ridden by Yasunari Iwata who won the 2006 Melbourne Cup on Delta Blues, the last time Japanese horses have visited Australia.
Buena Vista will have just one more race start before she is retired to the breeding barn.
Williams is on a six week riding stint in Japan after winning the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plates during the spring.
A careless riding suspension cost him the winning Melbourne Cup ride on Dunaden but he will be aboard that horse in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in two weeks.
AAP TURF
