By Sean Cronin
Not seen since snagging July's Listed Prix Roland de Chambure, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer homebred Nighttime (Wootton Bassett) continued on the upgrade with a first pattern-race triumph in Thursday's G3 Prix La Rochette at ParisLongchamp.
“Nighttime confirmed today everything he had shown in his previous starts–quality and class,” said Christopher Head. “He has the speed to do well over that distance and Wootton Bassett is an amazing sire. Beforehand, it was the intention to go for the [G1] Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and now, more than ever, we want to go. This really looked like the perfect preparation. He goes on any ground, he has a lovely temperament, and thinking about the future, I feel that he ticks all boxes to be a Classic prospect next season.”
The Christopher Head trainee, who graduated over seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud in June, was on the front end early and accepted a tow from fellow Wertheimer entry Kenzel (Zelzal), who had been baulked at the break, after the first two furlongs. Shaken up to launch his bid with a quarter-mile remaining, the 7-10 pick gained an edge passing the furlong pole and was ridden out to hold the late threat of Komorebi (Pinatubo) by 3/4-of-a-length. Francis Graffard nominee Vardif (Siyouni) kept on well in the closing stages and finished the same margin adrift in third.
Pedigree Notes
Nighttime is the third of five foals and one of three scorers out of a full-sister to Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes winner and G2 Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Mori (Frankel). His dam Daytime (Frankel) is also kin to G3 Sandown Classic Trial and G3 N E Manion Cup victor Midterm (Galileo), stakes-winning G3 Musidora Stakes second Noon Star (Galileo) and the dual stakes-placed Indelible (Shamardal). Nighttime, whose second dam is multiple Group 1-winning GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Midday (Oasis Dream), is a half-brother to G3 Prix Cleopatre victrix Halfday (Lope De Vega) and yearling and weanling colts by Zarak.
A colt of real potential for @CHeadRacing!
Nighttime digs deep to land the Group Three Prix la Rochette at ParisLongchamp! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/TYqReypcAC
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 11, 2025
Thursday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX LA ROCHETTE-G3, €73,200, ParisLongchamp, 9-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:22.78, sf.
1–NIGHTTIME (FR), 126, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Daytime (GB), by Frankel (GB)
2nd Dam: Midday (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
3rd Dam: Midsummer (GB), by Kingmambo
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere; T-Christopher Head; J-Maxime Guyon. €36,600. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €86,750. *1/2 to Halfday (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), GSW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Komorebi (Ire), 126, c, 2, Pinatubo (Ire)–Lyric Of Light (GB), by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin; T-Andre Fabre. €14,640.
3–Vardif (Fr), 126, c, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Vadalda (Fr), by Nathaniel (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Aga Khan Studs; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €10,980.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 3. Odds: 0.70, 2.70, 2.40.
Also Ran: Kenzel (Ire).
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