After taking the European Free Handicap on his first appearance as a three-year-old he recorded his most important success when winning the 2000 Guineas seventeen days later.
[2] Mystiko was sired by the Northern Dancer stallion Secreto, whose win in the 1984 Epsom Derby was the highlight of a brief racing career.
Lady Beaverbrook was considered an eccentric character[3] who gave most of her horses names consisting of one word with seven letters (Bustino, Terimon, Boldboy, Niniski, Petoski), as this was the most common form for Derby winners.
[6] On his next start at the end of August he was moved up in class for the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York and finished third to the odds-on favourite Mujtahid.
[7] Mystiko began his three-year-old season on 17 April in the European Free Handicap over seven furlongs at Newmarket, in which he carried 128 pounds.
In the final furlong he was strongly challenged by the French-trained colt Lycius, but maintained a narrow advantage to win the Classic by a head.
Carrying top weight of 126 pounds he made all the running and drew clear of his opponents in the closing stages to win by two lengths from the filly Only Yours.