Bred at Rhyds Stud in Wales, ‘Mystique’ was the 2016 2YO Filly of the Year.

Her Sire, Hasty Hall, has been the top stallion in the UK for many years and leading stallion in both the Sire Stakes and Breeders Crown series on numerous occasions. Plenty of record breakers and indeed record holders hail from Hasty Hall.

The Dam CPs Village Jigsaw, a CPR line mare, has produced a catalogue of successful progeny inlcuding Rhyds Ponder, Rhyds Jiffy, Rhyds Solution etc – with Mystique being the best yet.

Owned by Victoria Elvin, trained and driven by Victoria Gill, Mystique had seven victories from 12 races, with only one where she was out of the top three (and not by much as she finished fourth).
The season started at Appleby Spring in the 3YO Grass Championship. In the heat challenges from Greenhilldebatable were held off well and Mystique scored in her first outing by two lengths. In the final she kept up well with the boys and gave a very good contest to Springhill Glory and Rhyds Decoy. In a very close finish Mystique was third behind the aforementioned colts.
Some four weeks later came the PJI Engineering sponsored Major 3YO at York for fillies. In the Heat Mystique and pilot Vicky had it all their own way and they strolled the distance winning easily by two lengths in 2.00.3. Nine fillies lined up in the final with Mystique drawn 1. Greenhilldebatable was the main opponent in the closing stages but Mystique held on well to claim another success by just a head.
At Ceredigion Mystique and Debatable were to dual again in the Brian Jones & Porterstown Stud sponsored 3YO Pace. Mystique entered as favourite and battled on well again to victory four lengths ahead of Debatable.
Connections took a trip to Portmarnock mid July for the Barney Joyce Memorial 3YO. The competition there differed from what Mystique had faced so far, but there were no errors in her stride and she easily took victory by 7½ lengths in 2.00.3.
Back at Tir Prince the heats and finals of the Breeders Crown beckoned. Already the 2YO champion, could Mystique add the double? The heat was taken easily from Crown Victoria and Rhyds Hokey Cokey. The final though did not go their way and after a string of five straight wins, Mystique finished fourth behind Lyons Lememay, Rhyds Hokey Cokey and Chinatown Katie.
Back at Portmarnock Mystique was again overturned by Lyons Lememay, finishing third in the heat of the Alabar & Oakwood Stud 3YO. Still qualifying for the final, Mystique was up against it with draw 8 and Lememay getting 2. Mystique ran her heart out to finish a gallant third behind Lyons Lememay (1.59.0) and Greenhilldebatable.
At the Tregaron Festival for the Little Welsh Dragoness in late August, the run of thirds continued behind Lyons Lememay and Greenhilldebatable.
The final run in 2017 came at Tir Prince in the Sire Stakes 3YO Fillies. Six fillies lined up and the challenge this time came from Rhyds Hokey Cokey up the home straight, but Mystique dug in and triumphed in 2.00.9 to add the 3YO Sire Stakes division alongside the 2YO on her resume.

Nominated alongside Lyons Lememay, Rhyds Mystique gained the most votes to be awarded 3YO Filly of the Year 2017. The award will be presented at the BHRC & STAGBI Awards Event this coming weekend at the Mercure Haydock Hotel (WA11 9SG).