Grand Prix Boss romped to an easy victory in Sunday’s G1 NHK Mile Cup under a confident ride from Melbourne jockey Craig Williams.

Grand Prix Boss (3c Sakura Bakushin – Rosy Mist by Sunday Silence) collected his second elite level victory following the 2010 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes.  Trainer Yoshito Yahagi elected to bypass the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in favour of the NHK Mile and the win improved the colt’s record to 7: 4-0-1.

Last year’s Champion 2YO had no trouble in holding off the Deep Impact colts Cotillion and Real Impact.  Rock of Gibraltar colts Eishin Osman and Pray finished fourth and fifth.

Connections are now considering a trip to England which could include a start in the St. James Palace Stakes.  “We had to win on Saturday to go to Europe,” Yahagi explained.  “We want him to beat the best over there so he can become a world-class sire.”

The St. James Palace Stakes is the intended target of Frankel.  The Galileo colt produced a stunning performance to win the English 2000 Guineas and he’s likely to start a red-hot favourite in the Royal Ascot showpiece on June 14.

Grand Prix Boss is by Sakura Bakushin O who died last month.  He won consecutive renewals of the G1 Sprinters Stakes in 1993 and 1994 before retiring to Shadai Stallion Station.

The NHK Mile Cup winner is a half-brother to winners by Mejiro Ryan and Jungle Pocket.  Their dam Rosy Mist missed when bred back to Jungle Pocket last year.