Lovely Day Holds Off Challenge in Tenno Sho

Having his best year yet, Lovely Day tallied his second group I win in a four-race win streak Nov. 1 in Tokyo, capturing the Tenno Sho (Autumn) by a half-length from hard-charging Staphanos.

 

Settled in fourth along the inside behind a dawdling pace, favorite Lovely Day gained on the leaders at the top of the stretch, grabbed the lead with a furlong to run before turning back a strong challenge from Staphanos. Isla Bonita was third, three-quarters of a length back, in the 18-horse field.

 

"He was a bit keen to go at first but settled down," winning rider Suguru Hamanaka said of Lovely Day, a 5-year-old son of King Kamehameha. "Since he responded so well at the top of the stretch, I had to wait for the run because I didn't want him to take the lead too early. He gave a strong charge as soon as I asked him for it."

 

Lovely Day was timed in 1:58.04 for 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) on firm turf for his sixth group victory from eight starts this year. Racing as homebred for Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co., he has a 9-3-1 career line from 25 starts.

 

Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said Lovely Day, winner of the Takarazuka Kinen (Jpn-I) June 28, is being considered for the Japan Cup (Jpn-I) Nov. 27.

 

"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," he said of his runner, who is out of the wining Dance in the Dark mare Popcorn Jazz. "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."

 

Lightly regarded Staphanos traveled wide in midpack with Isla Bonita a few lengths behind. As the field turned into the stretch, Isla Bonita gained ground past Staphanos, and the two furiously swept past rivals. Staphanos, however, found another gear in the closing stages but could not overtake Lovely Day.