New winner caps excellent week for Decorated Knight!
22 October 2021
Decorated Knight fired in yet another impressive two-year-old winner on Friday as Zain Nights captured division one of the mile novice at Newbury.
It’s a traditionally strong maiden that has been won in the past by our own high-class performer Extra Elusive.
Trained like Decorated Knight by Roger Charlton, Zain Nights made a pleasing start to his career earlier this month when a staying-on fourth at Nottingham. He stepped up on that at Newbury, quickening well through a gap for Trevor Whelan before outbattling Lionel for a near-length success.
“It’s always an extra thrill to win with the progeny of horses that you have trained like Decorated Knight, who won three very memorable Group One race for Beckhampton,” said Roger Charlton. “His son Zain Nights showed himself like his sire to be tough and talented in winning at Newbury and I’m sure he will progress again next year.
“This horse was very relaxed and Trevor very pleased with him. He has a very likeable attitude and when the other horse came to him, he stuck at it well. He’s for a new owner and it’s a nice to have a winner.”
Owned by Asaad Al Banwan, Zain Nights was bred by Blue Diamond Stud out of Missy O’Gwaun, also the dam of this season’s Listed Celebration Stakes winner Fourhometwo. The daughter of King’s Best is a sister to Japanese Group 3 winner Cosmo Meadow and from the good Neil Jones family of Millenary and Knight To Behold.
Decorated Knight has made an outstanding start to his stud career.
Zain Nights is his second winner of the past three days after Wind Your Neck In, who made it two on the bounce in a class 2 nursery at Newmarket on Wednesday.
His very first runner Silver Bullet Lady, also trained by Roger Charlton, was also the impressive winner of her debut, a hot conditions race at Salisbury.
Then there is Damaar, who was impressive for John Gosden when the easy debut winner of a competitive novice at Sandown Park. Gosden also trains Knight Of Honour, a fast-finishing third on debut at Leicester earlier this month.
John Gosden has been impressed with what he has seen from Decorated Knight‘s progeny to date. “Damaar, like other Decorated Knights, has shown a great attitude in his training,” he said, “and displayed it well in his race today.”
Other winners by the stallion include Knight Rider for Kevin Philippart de Foy.
A Galileo relation to champion sire Giant’s Causeway gifted with an exceptional turn of foot, Decorated Knight won three Group 1 races, namely the Irish Champion Stakes, Jebel Hatta and Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Decorated Knight stands at the Irish National Stud.
