November 16, 2025
In the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) held at Kyoto Racecourse on November 16, 2025, the 6-year-old mare Lilac put up a great fight to finish in 3rd place. The veteran, making her fourth consecutive appearance, demonstrated her high aptitude for the course, becoming a hot topic among fans. This article provides a detailed analysis of the race results, social media reactions, the factors behind Lilac’s strong performance, and her future prospects.
The Queen Elizabeth II Cup on November 16, 2025, drew attention as the race to decide the autumn queen. After the race, many comments surfaced online regarding Lilac’s performance, who clinched 3rd place.
On social media and forums, numerous praise-filled comments were seen, such as “Congratulations, Lilac,” “Nice 3rd place,” and “A great fight.” Fans who had placed bets shared their joy with posts like, “Glad I bought a place ticket,” and “Thanks for the wide bet with Paradis Reine.”
Why was Lilac able to perform better than her popularity suggested? We explore the factors based on fan opinions after the race.
Lilac had achieved consistent results in the past three Queen Elizabeth II Cups, finishing 2nd, 4th, and 6th, and was recognized as a “Queen Elizabeth II Cup specialist” or a “repeater.” Fans commented, “She runs well in the same race every year,” and “Only a novice wouldn’t bet on her,” indicating that many trusted her course suitability.
Pre-race information included comments like, “Heard she was in better shape than last year,” “Her condition was back to its peak as a 3-year-old,” and “Her training was outstanding.” Despite being 6 years old, her condition was described as “the best of her career,” which is analyzed as a key factor in her strong performance.
Various opinions were exchanged about the ride by jockey Yusuke Fujioka. Many praised his riding, saying, “It was a great ride for Lilac, who needs to be held back,” and “Bringing out her late speed is his classic move.” On the other hand, there was a debate about whether a ride aiming for the win or a ride aiming for a place was the correct strategy, with comments like, “He started his move too late,” and “That was the right way to ride her, as she falters when she moves to win.”
Some fans believed that the field this year was weaker, with comments like, “The 4 and 5-year-olds, besides Regaleira, are weak,” and “This year’s lineup is thin,” suggesting there was room for a proven horse like Lilac to rise. Additionally, regarding the 2200m distance, one pointed out, “Just being able to run 2200m is an advantage in the current Queen Elizabeth II Cup,” indicating that her high distance aptitude paid off.
Following her result in this year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup, attention is now on Lilac’s future. While some fans hope she continues her career, saying, “She can still run,” and “She could probably do this well again next year,” others wish for her to pass on her lineage, commenting, “I think it’s a good time to retire and become a broodmare,” and “Become a great mother.”
Some fans are even eager to see her run in the year-end Grand Prix race, saying, “I really want her to run in the Arima Kinen.” Her next move will be closely watched.