€80,000 Chênes (Gr3): Misunderstood has got it right

ParisLongchamp, Thursday, September 12th, 2024 – Following an impressive debut victory in the prestigious Prix de Crévecœur over a mile in July, Misunderstood (Hello Youmzain) started as the favourite in the €80,000 Prix des Chênes (Gr3), a Group 3 race for 2-year-old colts over the same distance. He faced a field of five rivals. Taking an early lead, he extended his advantage and kept his opponents at bay throughout the straight, ultimately winning comfortably by nearly five lengths from Nesthorn (Expert Eye), the winner of the Prix de Montaigu.

Bred by Écurie de Cachène and Patrick Charel, Misunderstood was repurchased for £190,000 as a yearling at Tattersalls and then again for £95,000 as a 2-year-old, also at Newmarket, in April. Waldjagd (Observatory), his dam, was purchased in foal to this colt at the 2021 breeding stock sales in Deauville for €160,000 by Trotting Bloodstock. Misunderstood's sister by Frankel was bought for €800,000 by Japanese owner Yoshito Yahagi at the Arqana August sales, where Les Capucines consigned her.

Group 2-placed in Germany at 3, Waldjagd has also produced the Prix du Pont-Neuf (L) winner Urwald (Le Havre) and the Group 2 winner Waldbiene (Intello). She is herself out of a winner of the German St Leger (Gr2), who is the second dam of the stallion Masked Marvel (Montjeu), winner of the St Leger Stakes (Gr1), and the third dam of the Arc winner Waldgeist (Galileo).