Mysterious Night Lands Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort At Meydan
Trainer Charlie Appleby landed the Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan for the eighth time in the last ten years yesterday as the four-year old son of Dark Angel Mysterious Night quickened up smartly in the colours of owner-breeder Godolphin to win under William Buick. In a ten-strong field over 7f on turf, Buick’s mount broke smartly from the inside stall before settling in behind his pacesetting stablemate Majestic Pride. Turning into the straight with 2f left to run, Mysterious Night was still travelling comfortably, but had to wait for racing room between horses. Once the gap opened, he ran on strongly, with Buick not having to get too serious, and he held on to win comfortably by a length in a very fast time of 1m 21.73 seconds.
The Kevin Philippart de Foy-trained Vafortino ran on very strongly against the far side rail to grab second, a head in front of Danyah in third.
Mysterious Night had a busy juvenile campaign in 2022, finishing placed in both the Gr.2 July Stakes and Gr.2 Vintage Stakes, before getting his head in front at Stakes level in the Gr.3 Prix Francois Boutin. He went on to land the Gr.1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine by a wide margin that September. He made a winning return to action in handicap company over this course and distance a week ago before doubling up
yesterday.
