Mozu Ascot enjoyed a coming-of-age Grade One breakthrough less than a year after his debut when he struck in the Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo.

The son of Frankel backed up from finishing second in a Listed race seven days prior to Japan’s premier mile race and was able to equal the race record of 1:31.3 set in 2012.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi insisted pre-race that Mozu Ascot possessed the "talent and potential" to make it as a G1 winner.

Mozu Ascot repelled Aerolithe and the favourite Suave Richard to an automatic passage to the Breeders' Cup Mile if connections take up the offer.

Yahagi was delighted with Mozu Ascot's effort.

"I think this victory is because we ran him last week,” he said.

“I'm delighted everyone could see my staff's skill in training the horse, who can be difficult. They've done a great job.

“I think he will grow up more and will be a force in the mile division in Japan.

“For a colt with just under a year of racing experience he's quite an amazing horse.

"Of course, being a Frankel colt there are lots of expectations for bigger titles and later becoming a great sire.”

Yahagi is best known in Japan as the trainer of Grand Prix Boss, who he took the the UK to challenge Frankel in the 2011 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the 2012 Japan Derby winner Deep Brillante.

Mozu Ascot’s jockey Christophe Lemaire landed his 17th JRA G1 title after claiming the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) with Almond Eye two weeks earlier.

“I didn’t have any specific plan before the race. The only thing I wanted to do was to have my horse relaxed and to follow a good horse in the straight,” Lemaire said.

“Once I found a gap I asked for full power from the horse with my whip and he responded very well and kept on strongly to the finish line.”

Suave Richard's rider Mirco Demuro said the warm weather affected his mount's chances.

"It was so hot and his condition was a little down."

Hong Kong trainer John Size was satisfied with the performance of Western Express to finish eighth.

"He ran as well as he could. The horses in the race were just too strong for him,” Size reported.

“He went to make a run and he just wasn't strong enough to get up the hill to the line."