Japan’s reigning Horse of the Year KItasan Black added another Group One to his record at Kyoto on Sunday when he won his second Tenno Sho Spring in course record time.

His dominant one length victory should elevate the champion 5YO to the top of the world stayer rankings after recording the 10th win of his 16-start career.

Kitasan Black ran the 3200 metres in the amazing course record time of 3.12.5. He bettered the previous record set by the champion Deep Impact and is now set to be trained for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) in Paris in October.

It was his fifth G1 win in the last two years after his victories in the 2015 Kikuka Sho (3000m), 2016 Tenno Sho Spring (3200m), 2016 Japan Cup (2400m) and this year’s Osaka Hai (2000).

Kitasan Black's trainer Hisashi Shimizu said: “He's been doing so well. We just take every race as it comes with him but he just seems to get better and better.”

Satono Diamond, who beat Kitasan Black in the G1 Arima Kinen in December, finished third on Sunday to bring to an end a four race winning streak.

Cheval Grand, third in both last year's edition Tenno Sho Spring and the Japan Cup, split Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond.

Kitasan Black’s rider Yutaka Take celebrated his 73rd G1 win and stretched his own record as the jockey with the most Tenno Sho Spring titles to eight.

“It was a really tough race—the pace never slowed down,” Take said.

“The horse showed amazing stamina and tenacity up to the end which only he can do.

“I never thought Deep Impact’s record would ever be broken. This horse is just so much stronger than he was a year ago.”