Mysterious Night Group 1 Victory Headlines International Stakes Hat-Trick for Dark Angel
The Charlie Appleby trained Godolphin homebred Mysterious Night, patiently handled by William Buick, impressed with a 5 3/4-length run away win in the Group-1 Pattison Summer Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday from Klaravich Stables’ Appraise for an Irish-bred 1-2. The Summer Stakes, won last year by Albahr, is a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Group-1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland the first weekend of November.
“He rode beautiful and the track is in great condition,” said Buick. “I walked it before, and you know, it’s as good as it always is. We knew the horse was going to like it, fast ground. He travelled through the race beautifully. He was giving me plenty of confidence throughout the race and he was happy travelling away, so it was perfect for him and hopefully he can go on from here.”
The 2-year-old son of Champion Sire Dark Angel lined up in a seven-horse field on the back of his victory in the Group-3 Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville last month. He is a full brother to Althiqa, winner of the Longines Group-1 Just a Game Stakes and Group-1 Diana Stakes for the same connections last year.
Mysterious Night was completing a remarkable international triple for his sire Dark Angel, who was also represented Saturday by Top Ranked in the $200,000 Group-3 Bill Ritchie Stakes at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia for Trainer Annabel Neasham in the overnight hours, and by The Guy O’Callaghan bred Barefoot Angel, who took the Group-3 Firth of Clyde Stakes at Ayr Racecourse in Scotland in the colours of Norman and Helen Steel for Richard Fahy.
The blaze-faced bay is the sixth North American winner at graded level for Dark Angel, joining the likes of Grade 1 winners Raging Bull, his dual Group-1 winning full-sister Althiqa and Hunt.
WATCH Full Race Replay (Media Credit: Breeders’ Cup World Championships via You Tube)
