Lovely Day, trained by Yasutoshi Ikee, continued his rise through the Japanese staying ranks with a smooth victory in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn in Tokyo on Sunday.

Ridden by Suguru Hamanaka, the five-year-old was an also-ran in the Japanese Classics at three but was clearly an unfinished product and has now developed into a top-level runner.

The winner of the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Nakayama Kim and the G2 Kyoto Kinen early this year, Lovely Day also picked up the G3 Naruo Kinen before he earned his first win at the highest level beating Gold Ship in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June.

After a summer break, Lovely Day picked up where he left off winning the G2 Kyoto Daishoten on October 12.

He has now won four Group races in succession after overtaking the front-running Clarente in midstretch and had enough left to hold off a cavalry charge that included Staphanos and Isla Bonita.

Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said, “We still have future races to think about so he wasn’t completely tuned up, but for a second autumn start he was in good form.

“The horse has developed beautifully and has entered his prime.

“We have the Japan Cup in mind as his next start. We’ll carefully prepare him race by race.”

Hamanaka replaced regular rider Yuga Kawada, who was suspended, and said: "He was so strong today. He broke smoothly and could get a good position near the front.

“At the top of the straight he wanted to go faster than I wanted so I had to hold him until the final furlong.

“It was an excellent result."

Both Lovely Day, who was the 12-5 favourite, and runner-up Staphanos are nominated for the Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin next month.