By Sean Cronin
Third in last month's G2 July S. at Newmarket and G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood, Godolphin's homebred 2-year-old Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Mistrusting {Ire}, by Shamardal) bounced back in style to claim an ultimately comfortable victory in Sunday's G3 Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville. Steadied behind all four rivals through halfway, the 2-5 favourite made eyecatching headway once angle to the outer for a clear passage approaching the quarter-mile marker and kept on well under mild urging once gaining an edge passing the furlong pole to register a career high by a half length from Bolshkinov (Fr) (Camacho {GB}).
“He's a horse we've always liked and we decided to wait with him here rather than going forward like he did at Goodwood last time,” explained trainer Charlie Appleby. “We had it in mind to take him to Canada next, but William said it is not certain that he'd stretch out to a mile just yet, so we will look at various options here in Europe. The [G1 Prix Jean-Luc] Lagardere in October is a possibility.”
Mysterious Night becomes the 51st pattern-race winner for his sire and second for Listed Boadicea Fillies' S. victrix Mistrusting (Ire) (Shamardal), who also produced his GI Just A Game S. and GI Diana S.-winning full-sister Althiqa (GB). Mistrusting is the leading performer out of G2 Cherry Hinton S. victrix Misheer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a granddaughter of Lighthouse (GB) (Warning {GB}) who is a half-sister to G1 Middle Park S.-winning sire First Trump (GB) (Primo Dominie {GB}) from the family of G1 Prix de l'Abbaye hero Mr Brooks (GB) (Blazing Saddles {Aus}). Mistrusting has a yearling filly by Kodiac (GB) and a weanling colt by Dubawi (Ire) to come.
Sunday, Deauville, France
CIRCUS MAXIMUS PRIX FRANCOIS BOUTIN-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 8-14, 2yo, 7fT, 1:25.05, g/s.
1–MYSTERIOUS NIGHT (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Mistrusting (Ire) (SW-Eng, $120,206), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Misheer (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
3rd Dam: All For Laura (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €40,000. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Eng, 5-2-1-2, €80,560. *Full to Althiqa (GB), MGISW-US, GSW-UAE SW & GSP-Fr, MGSP-Eng & GSP-Ire, $761,213. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bolshkinov (Fr), 126, c, 2, Camacho (GB)–Gonzeville (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€100,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG) O-Alain Jathiere; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €16,000.
3–Montesilvano (Ire), 126, c, 2, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Delicate Charm (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€3,000 RNA 2yo '22 GOFFEB). O-Robert Ng; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 0.40, 5.10, 7.40.
Also Ran: Pink Pong (Fr), Ipanema Princess (Ire). Scratched: Neversay (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
Good start for the boys in blue! It's a Group success for Mysterious Night, as the son of Dark Angel lands the Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin at @fgdeauville for William Buick and Charlie Appleby! pic.twitter.com/45dZkGGifo
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 14, 2022
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