misty sky

Misty Sky is a promising three-year-old filly by Sands Of Mali, based with Classic-winning trainer Hugo Palmer at Michael Owen’s exquisitely provisioned Manor House Stables in Cheshire.

She is a half-sister to the 6f winner Dontellyourmother and out of the Listed-and Gr.3-placed four-time winner Madda’s Force. The last-named is among four winners out of the winning Selkirk mare Madda’sblueyes, who hails from a rich black-type-producing family that includes the Gr.1 Santa Barbara Handicap heroine Bequest and the Gr.2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes winner Opal Tiara.

The covering sire, Sands Of Mali, was an exceptionally fast two-year-old and later an outstanding sprinter when in the care of Richard Fahey. He won the Gr.2 Gimcrack Stakes at York as a juvenile and enjoyed his finest hour when beating seven top-level winners in the season-defining Gr.1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot the following year.

Ahead of Misty Sky making her racecourse debut, Hugo Palmer said: ‘She is a lovely filly from an Italian family. The dam got black-type at two and Sands Of Mali was an exceptional two-year-old. We loved her at the sales, thought she was really strong and athletic, and she has done really well since.’

Misty Sky made her debut in the summer of 2024 and took a couple of starts to learn the ropes. However, she began to demonstrate her true potential when third in a 6f Chepstow maiden in mid-August before finishing a neck second at Hamilton the following month.

Improving with every run, Misty Sky was sent to Newmarket in October for a competitive-looking 7f novice event. Bounced out from stall three by jockey Aidan Keeley, she immediately made her way to the front and didn’t see another rival. It was a splendid front-running performance, and the sixth won nicely on her next start to boost the form.

Allotted a handicap mark of 77 following that success, Misty Sky was given a short break before returning on the all-weather. She finished third over 7f at Wolverhampton on her handicap debut just prior to Christmas and then made all the running to win from the same mark at Southwell (7f) on her first start of this year.

The handicapper reacted by pushing her up to a new rating of 81, but there is every reason to expect that further improvement will be forthcoming. Misty Sky is getting better with racing and looks all set for a very exciting season.