3 minute read

Trainer Kieran Cotter has indicated 1000 Guineas third Matilda Picotte will head to the 6f Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes on Saturday. Her performance over a shorter distance will help decide future targets.

Winner of the Listed Bosra Sham Stakes at Newmarket as a juvenile, Matilda Picotte started the Classic campaign with a good second in the Irish 1000 Guineas trial at Leopardstown. She started 33/1 for the Newmarket Classic and out-ran all expectations, keeping on well to finish 'best of the rest' behind the battle for first and second between Mawj and Tahiyra.

Kieran Cotter was delighted with his filly's performance, "The mile at Newmarket is probably the only mile we would have run her over. She had form at the track and we knew she would handle it very well.

"Not a lot of people know this, but the fillies race was almost four seconds faster than the colts and her time for the mile was faster than the winner of the 2000 Guineas the day before. Her second furlong was I think 11 seconds so she did phenomenally well to hold on for third."

Matilda Picotte is likely to face tough opposition in the six furlong Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes with Aidan O'Brien's Little Big Bear looking to bounce back following 2000 Guineas disappointment. He is joined by Commonwealth candidates Cold Case, Bradsell and Mischief Managed, who finished first, third and eighth in the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes at Ascot on the 3rd of May.

"We're the only filly in the race, but she has taken them [colts and geldings] on before," said Cotter.

"I know we get 3lb, which is probably not a whole lot, but we don't see anything there to be totally afraid of. Of course we respect them but we're not afraid of them.

"She has proper six furlong pace so we'll just see where the land lies with her before the decision has to be made whether she goes for the Commonwealth Cup or not as she could go for the Prix Jean Prat in France."