CERCLE SUCCESS FOR STERN OPINION

Juddmonte’s Stern Opinion (MIZZEN MAST) scored by a length and a half in yesterday’s Listed Prix du Cercle over 1000m at Deauville, with the Dandy Nicholls-trained Masta Plasta (Mujadil) the best of the foreign raiders back in fourth.

The four-year-old son of MIZZEN MAST has an interesting race record. He remains unbeaten in Listed company, having lost his maiden tag in the Listed Prix Yacowlef over course and distance as a juvenile, and landed last year’s Listed Prix Hampton at Chantilly. Apart from his three Listed outings, he has raced exclusively in Gr.3 contests, finishing second in the Gr.3 Prix de Cabourg and Gr.3 Prix de Ris-Orangis (both at Deauville), and third in the Gr.3 Prix La Rochette and Gr.3 Prix du Petit-Couvert (both at Longchamp). He was making his seasonal debut yesterday after being sidelined due to a chip in the knee.

Trainer Pascal Bary is considering the Gr.3 Prix de Meautry over 1200m or the Gr.3 Prix du Petit Couvert over 1000m for his next outing, with the Gr.1 Prix de l’Abbaye a possible end of season target.

He is out of the Nureyev mare Helstra, a winning daughter of the Gr.1 Santa Anita Oaks heroine Hail Atlantis (Seattle Slew), who has also produced the Stakes victor and sire Stormy Atlantic (Storm Cat), and is grandam of the Gr.2 winners Incanto Dream and Atlando.

Date: 05 August 2009