The Newsells Park Stud bred Japan powered clear in the final furlong to run out a clear winner of the Gr.2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot today for owners Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor

A fine third in the Derby earlier this month, Derrick Smith said he thought he was the best of the Ballydoyle horses that ran in the Derby.

Jockey Ryan Moore said: “They went a good pace, this is a high-class colt. He’s very good, he put them to bed very easily there. He was the best horse, it was just keeping it simple really. He could be more than a Leger horse, he’s a good horse. He will be a very effective mile and a half horse.”

Trainer Aiden O’Brien added: “The Derby was a very good race and I don’t think people realised how good. We could see with Circus Maximus winning the St James’s Palace Stakes earlier in the week and this horse; they were all there together, so it was a high-class race. This is a very smart horse who is coming forward all the time. We couldn’t be happier.”

Bred and raised by Newsells out of the Stakes winning mare Shastye (Danehill), Japan was sold by the stud at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale for 1,300,000gns.  MV Magnier also purchased his full-brother Sir Isaac Newton for 3.6m gns in 2013.  From the family of Sagamix and Sagacity, Shastye is also the dam of Stakes winner Maurus (Medicean).