Third choice Phalaenopsis made a perfect farewell run Sunday as she edged favorite Fusaichi Airedale at the wire to capture the Queen Elizabeth Cup for fillies and mares.
Phalaenopsis, in her final race, moved into top gear after the final bend at Kyoto Racecourse and overtook the front-running Fusaichi Airedale in the final furlong for a half-length victory over 2,000 meters on turf.
"It was the best race I could hope for from her. She always gave me confidence and I want to find a horse like this again," jockey Mikio Matsunaga said.
Phalaenopsis added the Queen Elizabeth Cup to the Oka-sho and Shuka-sho titles she claimed in 1998. Eidai Queen finished third.