Makoto Sugihara masterclass provides breakthrough for Frankel's son Mozu Ascot

Frankel's son Mozu Ascot claimed a first black-type victory as a stallion when Faust Rasen won Japan's most significant Classic trial on Sunday.

The Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen at Nakayama, won by the legendary sire who is honoured by the name back in 2005, is a lead-up to the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) on April 20 at Nakayama and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) on June 1.

Faust Rasen, bred by Tomoda Bokujo in Hokkaido Shin Hidaka Cho, was a maiden winner in November and then ran third to the country's latest sensation, Croix Du Nord, in December's Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.

The decisive moment in the event was at halfway, five furlongs in, when jockey Makoto Sugihara replicated tactics from the Hopeful Stakes by manoeuvring his mount right the way up the field from second-last into a lead which he maintained all the way to the line, two necks in front of Vincentio and Alohi Alii.

Mozu Ascot, who landed the 2018 Yasuda Kinen, was Frankel's first top-level winner on dirt when he took the February Stakes two years later. American-bred by Summer Wind Farm, he was Frankel's first son at stud in Japan when he headed to Arrow Stud.

Faust Rasen is a member of his maiden crop, reported to be a crop of 107 foals and which has produced 26 different winners to date. The three-year-old is out of Peisha Felice, by Special Week, a miler who had a long and successful career at just under the top level and has delivered several other minor winners.

Sugihara said: "As for the strategy, it went well last time so I hoped to do the same today. When the pace slowed down, I was able to move aggressively, trusting him and hoping he would hold on until the finish.

"I thought he was a horse with a very strong cardiopulmonary capacity among the horses I've ever ridden. I knew that he would be at a disadvantage in a race that required explosive speed so I tried to make sure that didn't happen. He runs his best every time, and he has good turn of foot for a long time, so I think he's really suited to the Nakayama stage. I just hope he goes through safely."

Vincentio's rider, Christophe Lemaire, said: "He ran a good race. Today, he was 10kg heavier than last time, and this type of track was difficult for a big horse, but he showed good performance in a race of this level. I think it was a good stepping-stone race."

Vincentio, a son of Real Steel, has a 3x3 full-brother cross between Kingmambo and Monevassia.

The first three have earned the right to compete in the Satsuki Sho, where Croix Du Nord (by Kitasan Black) will run without a prep race under Yuichi Kitamura.

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