Godolphin's Kodiac 3yo Star Of Mystery added yet further to her international resume on Sunday when the easy winner of the Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga in the US.
Already a stakes winner in the UK and Dubai, Star Of Mystery was settled near the back of the field by Flavien Prat on this occasion before coming with a big run down the outer to swoop past Mansa Musa and win going away.
"I was a bit worried she was going to sleep, but she was just an old pro today," said Prat. "I was good with the position. She jumped forward where I wasn't going to be too far back. She was traveling well all the way around and when I tipped her out, she [responded]. She just ran very well. She gave me a good kick. [Her kick] was strong enough today."
Chris Connett, assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby added: "Charlie spoke with Flavien yesterday and said, 'you've rode the filly before and ideally, we'll be a bit handy, but if you want to let them roll along you can. You know the filly now, so sit the way you're happy with it.
"She comes alive when the gates open though and she sure finished off really nicely. It's a big thing for these European horses coming over here. Their first runs can be a little bit intense for them, but that's why Charlie picks the horses he does and they do acclimatise themselves really well."
Star Of Mystery (pictured below at Newmarket last year) showed very smart form as a two-year-old for Charlie Appleby last season, notably when winning the Listed Empress Stakes at Newmarket by four lengths. She returned to action in Dubai this year to win both the Listed Al Wasl Stakes and the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint before wrapping up with a game second, beaten just three- quarters of a length, in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Meydan in March.
The Godolphin homebred is out of the Listed-winning Shamardal mare Mistrusting and therefore bred on the same cross as Group winners Hello Youmzain, Gifted Master, Island Of Love and Umm Kulthum.
Star Of Mystery now boasts five wins for earnings of nearly $800,000.
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