Scatter fends off hotpot Sergei in opener The Patrick Prendergast-trained Skitter Scatter made her experience pay when running out a game winner of the opening two-year-old maiden at Dundalk this evening. Ballydoyle newcomer Sergei Prokofiev was sent to post a strongly supported 4/9 favourite for the five-furlong contest and tracked the front-running Skitter Scatter throughout. He loomed ominously two furlongs from home but when asked for an effort inside the final furlong ran around slightly. 5/1 shot Skitter Scatter kept her head down under pressure and held the hotpot at bay to record a short-head success under Ronan Whelan. The winner had finished third behind Jungle Jane on her racecourse debut here in late March. “You can’t beat a run, although when I saw the race and what we were taking on I did consider not running her,`' said Prendergast. “Her groom Paata (Khvedelidze) who rides her everyday said there is so much fight in her and she is a stakes filly so take a chance. Her owner felt the same way. “She is the same at home and just wants to get her head in front. She wants six furlongs really but I can’t run her on the turf at the moment as she makes no fist of soft ground. “She’ll go for the six-furlong fillies (Juvenile Sprint) Listed race at Naas (on May 20th). She’s pure honest and wants to win.” (Quotes by Alan Magee)
