Having captured the Cox Plate with Lys Gracieux, Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi is eyeing off Australia’s richest 1600m-handicap, the Doncaster Mile, with Mozu Ascot.
The Yahagi-trained horse won Sunday’s Grade One February Stakes at Tokyo to confirm plans to bring him to Sydney for the $3 million Doncaster on April 4.
Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Mozu Ascot was a dominant 2-1/2 length winner over K T Brave.
A son of champion Frankel, Mozu Ascot has won seven races from 21 starts including the 2018 Yasuda Kinen.
“He is a great horse who has now won both a turf Grade One and a dirt Grade One,” Yahagi said.
“His condition was better than the previous race, so I expected the result, although I was nervous.
“I will take him to Australia to contest the Doncaster Mile, and the main target this year would be the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.”