The local TV commentator described it as "the ride of the year" and Ed Dunlop was justifiably jubilant after Ryan Moore had brought SNOW FAIRY with "an amazing run" to retain her QE11 Commemorative Cup crown in Japan this morning.
Snow Fairy, who went off the 17-10 favourite, looked to have no chance at the 250 metre mark where, though making ground, she was still 10 lengths off the runaway leader Shimmei Fuji but Ryan bought his nerves in Iceland and enjoying a dream run between horses, he galvanized the filly, who got up close home to score a belated first success of the year in dramatic fashion.
Already placed this year in the English and Irish Champion Stakes, the Nassau and the Arc, Snow Fairy thoroughly enjoyed this change of fortune and Ed said: "Snow Fairy is a truly unbelievable filly and what a ride."
"It did not look possible for her to win two furlongs out and we had virtually given up but Ryan said that though she probably needed the race after that interrupted preparation she took off in the last 200 metres and it was the most amazing run."
"All credit to my team, especially Robin and Lynsey, who have been brilliant looking after things out here. Things did not look great at the start of the week after the infection that she picked up from the bug bites sustained in quarantine and had this race been five days earlier she would not have run."
"But we managed to beat the clock and Snow Fairy has shown us yet again that she is one-in-a-million. It is almost unheard of for any European horse to come to Japan and win a back-to-back Group 1 but to do it from the 18 stall following such a difficult preparation is testimony to Snow Fairy's extraordinary ability. She has such a terrific turn of foot."
"However, we have ruled out any thoughts of staying over for the Japan Cup. She has had a hard enough race here and Tokyo will come too quick, so we will go on to Sha Tin and decide when we get there whether we defend our title in the Hong Kong Cup or go instead for the Vase."
"We already have our Melbourne Cup runner-up RED CADEAUX lined up for the Vase but we will sort things out when we get there. It has been remarkable really - we have brought two horses on a world tour to try and win two of the most prestigious races on the globe and one has won and the other has been beaten a pixel. I am so proud."
Ryan is now unbeaten in five rides on Snow Fairy, whose earnings now exceed £3m. He said:"I am very lucky to be associated with such a great filly as Snow Fairy. She has so much talent and tries so hard for you. They went off very fast and I was farther back than I would have liked but she has such an awesome turn of foot and in the straight she quickened up so well for me. The quality of racing in Japan has improved so much, so to be able to do it in successive years is a tribute to the filly."