Super sire Frankel breaks new ground with first Grade 1 dirt winner

Frankel notched another first in Sunday's February Stakes in Tokyo when Mozu Ascot became his first Grade 1 winner on dirt.

Yoshito Yahagi's six-year-old already ranks as one of ten individual top-flight scorers for the thoroughbred colossus, having picked up the Yasuda Kinen on grass track at the same venue back in June 2018.

He has been tried on dirt this year and landed the Grade 3 Negishi Stakes at the Japanese capital's track three weeks ago. He backed up in impressive fashion, too, weaving through most of the field under Christophe Lemaire and allowing his pilot a cheeky look over his shoulder as he tore two and a half lengths clear of K T Brave.

The race is a qualifying 'win and you're in' event for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

"His acceleration was extraordinary," said Lemaire. "Although he is a newcomer in dirt racing, he adapted immediately to the surface and gave his best today.

"After a couple of seconds in the past, I myself, am happy to have won the February Stakes at last."

Mozu Ascot was bred in the US by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm out of the Grade 2-winning Hennessy mare India, who has also produced the Listed-winning sprinter Kareena.

He was unsold for $275,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September but has already accumulated well over £2 million for owner Capital System Co Ltd.

Also on the card, there was a notable performance from American Pharoah's son Cafe Pharoah, who came from last-to-first in the Hyacinth Stakes. The event is one of four points-earning qualifiers for a start in the Kentucky Derby, the first stop on the sire's road to Triple Crown glory five years ago.

A member of the champion's first crop and related to several graded performers, Cafe Pharoah was sold for $475,000 at Ocala last March.

Read more...

From Hokkaido to Brittany: Bande joins the ranks of French jumps sires

New Triumph favourite Solo a rare entire jumper - but probably not for long

Breed-shaping sire and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy dies in Kentucky at 31