[4] Mistigri's dam Nyanga, who won two races in a France, was a great-great-granddaughter of the outstanding broodmare Athasi, whose other descendants include Trigo, Tulyar and Time Charter.
He was then stepped up to the highest class to contest the 195th edition of The Derby and exceeded expectations as he finished sixth behind Snow Knight, Imperial Prince, Giacometti, Bustino and Northern Taste.
He ran poorly when coming home tenth behind English Prince in the Irish Derby at the Curragh on 29 June and then finished runner-up to the Vincent O'Brien-trained Sir Penfro in the Desmond Stakes at the same track a month later.
Richard Grenville was made the odds-on favourite ahead of the British challenger Franconian, with Mistigri, ridden by Christy Roche, the third choice in the betting on 9/1.
He finished fourth to Authi in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club over 2400 metres in Milan and then came home eighth of the nine runners behind Admetus in the Washington, D.C.International.
[2] After finishing runner-up over one and a half miles on his four-year-old debut Mistigri was stepped up in distance and sent to France for the Prix Jean Prat over 1500 metres at Longchamp Racecourse on 27 April.
Four weeks later he returned to Longchamp for the Group 1 Prix du Cadran over 2400 metres in which he was ridden by Willie Carson and finished fourth behind Le Bavard, Busiris and Sagaro.
[7] Having hewn his best form over extended distances, Mistigri was given little chance when dropped back to ten furlongs for the Desmond Stakes at the Curragh in August.
Racing without blinkers, he produced and upset as he prevailed in a close finish from the highly rated three-year-olds Donna Cressida and Imperial March.