Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte: Charyn beats Eddie's Boy

October 8, 2022, Chantilly Racecourse (Oise). – Four of the six runners in the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr2) were trained in Britain, and they took the first three places home.

The Prix Eclipse (Gr3) winner on this course and distance 20 days earlier, Eddie’s Boy (Havana Grey) took a flying start and led with Seeking Gold (Havana Gold) and Charyn (Dark Angel) on his outside. In the last furlong, Eddie’s Boy and Charyn were left alone to fight for the prize, and the latter finally took over to win by a short neck while three and a half lengths behind, Ocean Vision (U S Navy Flag) finished well in third.

Charyn had won his maiden for his debut in August at Haydock before registering a second place at Newmarket 20 days later, finishing third for his first attempt in a Group race, the Mill Reef Stakes (Gr2) at Newbury.

He was purchased by Sumbe, Nurlan Bizakov's breeding estate, at the Tattersalls yearling sales last October for £ 250,000. His dam is Listed-placed, but the closest Group winners lay down the third dam.