Pilsudski, guided home by Michael Kinane, rounded off his glorious career in the best possible fashion with a victory in the world's richest race, the Japan Cup, in Tokyo yesterday.

Right to the last the admirable five-year-old, sent off at odds of 3.61, demonstrated his gameness, holding off the home-trained Air Groove by a neck after a tremendous tussle to collect the £882,096 first prize.

Racing in mid-division, slightly further back than Kinane had intended, Pilsudski was travelling well turning into the straight. He responded in great style, hitting the front in the final 100 yards and galloping on well to hold Air Groove.

"He was cruising turning into the straight and I knew I had the horse with finishing speed," said Kinane afterwards. "But I thought Air Groove might beat me when she came past me one furlong out and I had to rally Pilsudski and go at her again. It was tough."

Bubble Gum Fellow, the favourite, was never far away and was a further one and a quarter lengths back in third. The German raider, Caitano, fared the best of the other overseas challengers finishing fast to take fourth.

The race had an unhappy outcome for Kevin Prendergast's Oscar Schindler, who finished eighth of the 14 runners under Cash Asmussen, while Luca Cumani's Mons had every chance two furlongs out but was soon beaten and came home 10th.

Pilsudski's victory was another feather in the cap of trainer Michael Stoute, who prepared Singspiel to win the same race 12 months ago.

It has sealed a wonderful year for Stoute who is the leading British trainer abroad as well as winning the domestic title.

"I am very fortunate to win with two determined and wonderful horses. They are both amazingly courageous horses and without that courage neither would have won," he said.

"I always thought that Pilsudski had a very good chance, but I knew we were up against tough competition and I didn't underestimate his task at the end of a long season."

Pilsudski returns to Newmarket this week, but the future of the son of Polish Precedent is in Japan. He has been bought by the Japanese Breeders' Association and will be retired to one of their stud farms in January.

Laura Weinstock, whose father-in-law Lord Weinstock owns Pilsudski, said: "The win is very special because we have had him a long time and are very attached to the horse."

Oscar Schindler was never in contention and his jockey Cash Asmussen reported: "He felt good before running out of steam in the straight. He may have been a little tired."

Kinane failed to make any impact with his other four rides at Tokyo. All were unplaced.