The grey Misty Birnam, second in the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe and third to Gunner in the 2016 Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes was a winner at Redcard in England on Saturday.

Backed at long odds and wearing cheek pieces for the first time, he obliged in a big 19-horse field to land something of a coup.

Misty Birnam

Bred by Anton Procter by Toreador, Misty Birnam raced in Procter’s colours along with Mike de Kock before the gelding was sold.

“Mike said he was going to Dubai but I don’t know the whole story,” said Procter. “He was very naughty as a two-year-old and pulled his bridle off before the Premier’s. He came from last to finish third.”

Misty Birnam’s UK form had not been inspiring before yesterday’s race but he was returning from a break and raced with cheek-pieces.

He is now owned by UK businessman Paul Wildes and trained by Ian Williams. On Saturday he was a 14-1 shot and ridden by PJ MacDonald.

Wildes is a late-comer to racing, having been introduced to the sport by friend and successful owner Dr Marwan Koukash in 2013.

“He took me to the May Festival at Chester – where he had a very good meeting,” said Wildes, whose business interests range from hairdressers to hotels.

By Andrew Harrison