Nighttime
Nighttime can be marked up at least a little on the performance that he put up in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp last Sunday. Drawn in stall 13, he was wide from flagfall and he was keener than ideal through the early stages of the race. But he made good progress from the top of the home straight, and he finished off his race well to take sixth place, just three lengths behind the winner Rayif. He had to make his ground from the rear off a moderate pace, the winner's finishing speed was over 107% of overall speed, and he was the only horse drawn in a double-digit stall to make it into the first nine home.
Winner of three of his five races last season as a juvenile, including the Group 3 Prix La Rochette at Longchamp in September, Christopher Head's colt finished off last season hy finishing second behind Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere back at Longchamp on Arc de Triomphe day. Only just beaten by French Guineas runner-up Komorebi in a Group 3 race at Longchamp over a mile on his debut this season, when he was keen enough too, this was a step forward from that. Connections thought enough of him to give him an entry in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he could be an interesting outsider if he took his chance there. His style of racing is well suited to Ascot. Even if he doesn't go to Ascot, he will be of interest wherever he goes next. He could take a nice step forward if and when he learns to settle a little better.
Longchamp, 10th May 2026
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