22 October 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, 22 October 2023, Saint-Cloud Racecourse (Hauts-de-Seine). – The visiting English mare, Caius Chorister (Golden Horn), delivered an impressive victory over the 1 mile 6 furlongs of the €80,000 Prix Belle de Nuit (Gr3), an fillies and mares race. Homebred in France by Clive Andrew Washbourn, she led several lentghs ahead of the field and was only challenged by Sunset Point (Dubawi) upon entering the home straight, having kept to the rail. Although momentarily threatened, she surged again to win by a commanding four lengths ahead of Royal Mila (Nathaniel), the favourite, who overtook a tiring Sunset Point in the final stages.
Before this first success at this level, Caius Chorister had clinched five consecutive handicaps last year from May to July, seeing her rating climb from 53 to 92 in the process. She also secured sixth place in the Prix Joubert (L) over 1 mile 6 furlongs at Longchamp. This season, while she hadn't found victory, she had garnered several places in handicaps, nearly reaching the symbolic rating of 100lbs. She came into this race off the back of a third-place finish over this same distance in the Prix Scaramouche (L).
Born in France, Caius Chorister is the first filly out of Corpus Chorister (Soldier of Fortune), also born in France and a winner of handicaps across the Channel. She was sold in November 2021 for €3,000 to Filip Zwicky at Goffs Ireland, in foal to Belardo.