Mystiko (horse)

Mystiko
Sire	Secreto
Grandsire	Northern Dancer
Dam	Caracciola
Damsire	Zeddaan
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1988
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Grey
Breeder	Kingston Park Stud
Owner	Lady Beaverbrook
Trainer	Clive Brittain
Record	13:4-1-1
Earnings	£194,946
Major wins
European Free Handicap (1991) 2000 Guineas (1991) Challenge Stakes (1991)

Mystiko (foaled 1988) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from July 1990 to October 1992 he ran thirteen times and won four races, all of them at Newmarket. After taking the European Free Handicap on his first appearance as a three-year-old he recorded his most important success when winning the 2000 Guineas seventeen days later. His subsequent form was disappointing, although he did win the Challenge Stakes that autumn. In 1993 he was retired to stud, but had little success.

Mystiko was a grey horse with a clearly defined white blaze and four white socks. He was bred by the Australian Kingston Park Stud, who sent a small number of mares to the United States to be bred to leading American stallions. Mystiko was sired by the Northern Dancer stallion Secreto, whose win in the 1984 Epsom Derby was the highlight of a brief racing career. He was acquired as a yearling by the Dowager Lady Beaverbrook.

Lady Beaverbrook was considered an eccentric character who gave most of her horses names consisting of one word with seven letters (Bustino, Terimon, Boldboy, Niniski, Petoski), as this was the most common form for Derby winners. Mystiko (Greek for "secret") was trained throughout his career by Clive Brittain at Newmarket, Suffolk. His most regular jockey was Michael Roberts who rode him in eleven of his thirteen starts.

Mystiko made his first appearance in a six furlong maiden race at Newmarket in July in which he finished second to Act of Diplomacy after briefly taking the lead a furlong from the finish. Three weeks later he ran in another maiden race over the same course and distance. On this occasion he was allowed to lead from the start and was never seriously challenged, winning by two lengths from Wolf Hall who in turn finished eight lengths clear of the other nine runners. On his next start at the end of August he was moved up in class for the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York and finished third to the odds-on favourite Mujtahid.

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