MOGUL was a convincing winner of the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt, a full-brother to dual Group 1-winning stablemate Japan, had a length and a quarter to spare from Sinawann at the line.

Ryan Moore bided his time on the 1/2 favourite as Cormorant, another of O’Brien’s three runners in the seven-strong field, set the pace in this one-mile test.

Mogul, an all-the-way winner of a Curragh maiden over this same trip of a mile, produced telling acceleration to nose in front on the outside entering the final furlong and move clear.

O’Brien said: “We were delighted with him. He was trapped a little bit wide today and there was a nice pace on so he learned plenty.

“Ryan had to move early on him then and when he got to the front he had a good look. I’d say he would have learned plenty and we’ve been very happy with his progress form race to race so hopefully he’ll progress on again.

“He just had to keep him up to his job to make sure something wouldn’t run him down late. Ryan was very happy and very complimentary when he came in off him.

“He would have a choice of two races, probably the Dewhurst or the Vertem Futurity. We’ll see how he comes out of it and the lads will decide on one of the two.

“We won’t over-race him. His brother ran in a Group 2 and didn’t run any more (at two), but this horse looks four weeks ahead of his brother at this stage.

“Obviously we think he’s a classic horse, Guineas/Derby type horse.”

Last stride

O’Brien and Moore had opened Irish Champions Weekend with a narrow victory for 13/2 shot Blissful in the Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes.

A trip to Britain may now be in the offing for the two-year-old after her second successive – both by a nose, staying on strongly this time to lead on the line from Nurse Barbara.

O’Brien responded by pinpointing a Group 1 target at Newmarket next month. “The Fillies Mile could be a possibility for her,” he said.

“She’s very relaxed after and was in no way upset. I’d say she’d have no problem going into a group race next and probably will end up getting a mile very well this year.”