€80,000 Circus Maximus François Boutin: Mysterious Night on the rise

Sunday, August 14, 2022, Deauville-La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – The Circus Maximus Prix François Boutin (Gr3) odds-on favourite Mysterious Night team (Dark Angel) had finished second in two consecutive Group2s in Great Britain. Bred and owned by Godolphin, he won pretty handily, though workmanlike only half a length ahead of Bolshnikov (Camacho), whom he had trailed behind the leader and eventual 3rd Montesilvano (Holy Roman Emperor). The winner was shifted two out by William Buick and took some time to reach momentum but passed the post with his ears pricked.

Second for his debut in May at Newbury, Mysterious Night won for the first time immediately afterwards on the same course before finishing third over 6 furlongs at Newmarket and then at Goodwood in the Vintage Stakes (Gr3), where he yet finished well ahead of the winner of his debut race. He had also been entered in the "Papin".

Mysterious Night was bred by Godolphin. He is the fourth foal out of Mistrusting (Shamardal), winner at 2 for her second trial then out until September the following year, when she radically failed for her return. However, she was entered in the French One Thousand Guineas (Gr1).

Out of a Cherry Hinton Stakes (Gr2) winner at 2, Mistrusting also gave Althiqa (Dark Angel), dual Grade 1-winner in the USA and previously placed in the Prix Amandine (L) in France, but also Magical Land (Frankel), sold maiden in Dubai in September 2021 for the equivalent of € 32,000.