Japan's multi-million guinea brother Mogul makes a big impression

Coolmore had to stretch to 3,400,000gns to secure the Galileo brother to Japan and Secret Gesture from the draft of his breeder Newsells Park Stud at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year, but the manner in which he broke his maiden on Friday hinted he might just be worthy of such an eye-watering price-tag.

Mogul had made his debut for Aidan O'Brien at Gowran Park this month and showed considerable promise despite being beaten five and a half lengths into second by the more experienced Geometrical, who subsequently finished a close third to Armory in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes last Friday.

View full result and watch race replay

Many Ballydoyle raiders by Galileo improve for their first run and so it proved once again in Mogul's case, as making his second start in a mile maiden for colts and geldings at the Curragh on Friday he made all under Ryan Moore and expended little effort in stretching clear and recording a three-and-a-quarter-length victory over the Dermot Weld-trained Zoffany colt Shekhem.

Two of Mogul's stablemates, also by Galileo, were given their racecourse introductions in the contest but finished down the field – Shoshone Warrior, a half-brother to Middle Park Stakes winner Astaire, was sixth and Nobel Prize, a brother to the seven-time Group 1 hero Highland Reel, was ninth home of 12. Needless to say, they may be capable of much better in future.

Mogul is the sixth winner produced by the Listed-placed mare Shastye, a Danehill half-sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sagamix, Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Sagacity and to Prix de Malleret winner Sage Et Jolie, later the dam of Prix d'Ispahan scorer Sageburg.

Her earlier matings with Galileo have resulted in Secret Gesture, winner of the Middleton Stakes and runner-up in the Oaks, Sir Isaac Newton, a Group 3 winner who gained a Royal Ascot victory by taking the Wolferton Handicap, and most notably Japan, who is emerging as this season's leading middle-distance three-year-old after victories in the King Edward VII Stakes, Grand Prix de Paris and Juddmonte International on his last three starts.

Shastye has been the most remarkable money-spinner for Newsells Park Stud, who bought her through John Warren as a breeding prospect for 625,000gns in 2005. The operation sold Mogul to Coolmore for 3,400,000gns, while Sir Isaac Newton was knocked down to the same owners for 3,600,000gns and Japan for 1,300,000gns.

In all, Shastye's yearling produce have sold for more than 11 million guineas.

The dam has no yearling this year, but produced a filly foal by Galileo in January and subsequently returned for the ninth cover by the perennial champion sire of her paddocks career.

Galileo's powers show little sign of waning as his 16th two-year-old crop, to which Mogul belongs, also includes the aforementioned Armory and Silver Flash Stakes winner Love, along with Group-placed Petite Mustique and Toronto and promising maiden winners such as Emperor Of The Sun and Innisfree.

Mogul holds entries in a number of big races, including the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh on September 29 – a race won by Japan when it was staged at Naas last year.

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