By Tom Frary
As we await the start of the delayed flat season, the TDN's Tom Frary will profile 'dark horses' that he expects to make an impact in 2020. He starts with the David Simcock-trained 3-year-old filly Oriental Mystique.
ORIENTAL MYSTIQUE (GB), f, 3, Kingman (GB)">Kingman (GB)–Madame Chiang (GB) (G1SW-Eng, $741,088), by Archipenko.
This is the first foal bred from Kirsten Rausing's G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G3 Musidora S. heroine Madame Chiang, who also raced for this yard. Sporting the famous white-and-green silks brought to prominence by Alborada (GB) (Alzao), this February-foaled bay stayed on with real gusto when fourth after a slow start on debut over a mile at Newmarket in late October before winning a mile novice on Kempton's Polytrack two weeks later. On the latter occasion, where she looked an entirely different proposition, the bay dealt with a potentially smart type from Ralph Beckett's stable in Declared Interest (GB) (Declaration of War) and Godolphin's subsequent Listed UAE 1000 Guineas winner and G3 UAE Oaks runner-up Dubai Love (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}).
“She obviously caught the eye at Newmarket and that was a nice introduction and then she did it nicely at Kempton under a far more aggressive ride,” Simcock explains. “She will stay well and handle juicy ground and we are planning on starting her off over a mile and a quarter and she should stay a mile and a half later.
“Before the delay to the season, an Oaks trial was on the agenda but now it's all up in the air. We'd obviously like to see her out as soon as possible, but we'll be guided by when the season starts. The likelihood is she will be fast-tracked into a pattern race with that pedigree and she would be one of my most promising 3-year-olds for this year, certainly among the fillies.”
Oriental Mystique's pedigree: Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Oriental Mystique's debut at Newmarket: Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Oriental Mystique's win at Kempton: Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
