April 18, 2017 - CHOLET, Race 1, Mdn, EUR €16,000, 10 1/2f, 139,
1st Dam: Nightime (Ire)
2st Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire)
2st Dam: Ridge Pool (Ire)
Owner: Godolphin SNC
Breeder: Mme C L Weld (Ire)
Trainer: Henri-Alex Pantall
Cholet is not accustomed to welcoming future stars, but the venue in western France had already played host to the eventual G3 Prix Noailles winner Soleil Marin (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}) in September and it may be that another will emerge on the glory trail as Midnight Fair created a lasting impression on this first outing. A daughter of the late Gita Weld’s runaway G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime who fetched 450,000gns as a TATOCT yearling, the chestnut was slowly out of the gates and anchored in last by Pierre-Charles Boudot initially prior to being taken across to the far rail to loop the entire field before halfway. In a clear lead when brought back from there, the 2-1 favourite raced markedly greenly but was in a totally different league all the way as she delivered a tour de force to win by eight lengths from Mont Dore (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}). Nightime’s first black-type performer was the listed-placed Weld hombred Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), but she was followed by a genuine class act in Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 9 1/2-11f, MGSW-Ire, $239,313. Still in training at Rosewell House seeking a surefire group 1 win in 2017, she has demonstrated well-above average ability when winning the G3 Kilternan S. and G3 Blue Wind S. on her favoured testing ground. This filly’s purchaser John Ferguson also won the bidding war at €1,100,000 for the dam’s 2015 colt by Dubawi (Ire) at theGoffs November Foal Sale, while she also has a yearling filly by Zoffany (Ire). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €8,000.
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