An incredible sporting Sunday was capped by the Newsells bred Japan winning the Gr.1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp.

Run over 2400 metres and regarded as the ‘real’ French Derby, Japan took the lead 300 metres out and stormed home to win readily by half-a-length for trainer Aidan O’Brien and owners Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Micheal Tabor.

This three-year-old colt by Galileo was following up his recent impressive success in the Gr.2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, having finished third in the Gr.1 Epsom Derby earlier in the month. As a two-year-old Japan also won the Gr.2 Beresford Stakes at Naas.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “When he works at home and finds himself in the lead, he does not do much, he tends to wait for others. Taking this into account, we are very happy with his performance today. He runs well over 2,400m, as well as over 2,000m, and the Irish St Leger or the Qatar Prix Nieldevraient are options before the Arc but we will give him a little break now.”

Jockey Ryan Moore said: “He’s a really beautiful horse, a beautiful mover who is well-balanced and has a good mind.”

Bred and raised by Newsells out of the Stakes winning mare Shastye (Danehill) from the family of Sagamix and Sagacity, 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 3,600,000gns in 2013.  In addition, Japan is a full-brother to multiple Group winner and performer Secret Gesture.  The two-year-old full-brother to Japan, Mogul, sold for 3,400,000gns and is also in training at Ballydoyle.