Matilda Picotte could be aimed at the Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary in September. © Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Kieran Cotter believes that stable star Matilda Picotte could be set for a productive autumn campaign, as the three-year-old bids to get her season back on track.
The daughter of Sioux Nation began the year with a second placing in the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial, before surpassing all expectations with an excellent third in the first fillies Classic at Newmarket in May.
Although only fourth of seven in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes on her most recent outing, Cotter feels she had a valid excuse for that below par performance: “We probably shouldn’t have run her in Haydock but it was the last three-year-old only sprint and historically it’s not the strongest of races but the winner of the King Stand was third and Little Big Bear won it.
“She probably had just too hard a race in the Guineas so we put her out to grass for four weeks and she’s come back in 35 kilos heavier and in fantastic form.
With that in mind, the Kildare based trainer has ambitious plans for the filly later in the season: “We could aim her at the Fairy Bridge Stakes in Tipperary (on September 3) which is a Group 3 for fillies over seven furlongs
“She has an entry in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest towards the end of July and wherever she goes she’ll be competitive.”
