Matilda Picotte propelling trainer Cotter to new heights
Cotter reckons his fantastic filly can help open doors for his yard in Portarlington
Matilda Picotte has emerged as the star filly in Cotter's yard after back-to-back Graded triumphs
We've been doing pretty well but she's brought us to a different level and I suppose she showed just what we can do here if we’re given proper horses - Kieran Cotter on Matilda Picotte
Kieran Cotter hopes the success of star filly and future Group 1 contender Matilda Picotte has sent a wider message about his training potential, writes Ben Hart.
The daughter of Phoenix Stakes winner Sioux Nation proved her own top-flight credentials at the climax of her Classic season, most of all in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket.
Trainer Cotter feared his prize asset might be sold in the days before the race but after a late change of heart among her owners, she secured a second successive triumph following an equally dominant ride at Doncaster.
“It was a fantastic win,” he said, reflecting on the Newmarket scalp.
“I suppose it brings its own pressure to try to back up the run at Doncaster and it was a relief for us, but I’m delighted with the way she performed and the way she's progressing as the season has gone on.
“She just seems to be getting better and better. She was nearly sold the week before, so it was fortunate for us that she wasn't as it turned out.
“She's improving with age and we’ve got a star filly. The plan next year will be to target a Group 1 with her.”
So tough! 💪
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 13, 2023
Matilda Picotte runs them ragged in the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @oismurphy | @KieranCotter14 pic.twitter.com/cdGuR1CmYs
That did not always seem to be the case after she was pinned late in her seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown, and as recently as August she struggled to keep pace at Goodwood.
But wins in her final two rides of the season have changed the narrative and Cotter hopes they have changed perceptions among prospective owners too.
“We've been doing pretty well but she's brought us to a different level and I suppose she showed just what we can do here if we’re given proper horses,” he said.
“We’re able to turn them up on the day and produce the goods, which is what some of the bigger studs and yards want and we hope we might attract a few better clients.
“I don't mean any disrespect to the people up here, but she might bring in a better standard and a higher standard of horse into the yard.
“It's fantastic to go to good meetings and compete and not be looking on as a spectator.
“As well as that, it brings a huge amount of respect to everybody here. From our perspective, if we turn up, we can produce the goods.”
A Group 1 victory would certainly push Cotter’s profile to new heights, and he is already plotting Matilda Picotte’s route to major race success.
Wow!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 17, 2023
Matilda Picotte blows away her rivals in the @JRA_WorldRacing Sceptre Fillies' Stakes at @DoncasterRaces under @oismurphy... pic.twitter.com/Gf3Kmtg7zA
With seven furlong options few and far between, Cotter suspects a drop in trip could be the answer.
“There's a few races there at seven for her but she’d have no problem stepping back down to six,” he said.
“The pace she showed at the second and third furlongs in Newmarket were sub 11 seconds, 10.6 I think. That's five furlong pace.
“She was able to maintain that to the line, so six will be no problem. She’ll be a four-year-old then, so she’ll be a bit stronger too.”
Regardless of what lies ahead for Matilda Picotte, she has already given Cotter some of his best experiences as a trainer.
She has caught the eye for her free-going style, often seen leading from the front and while there have been times when those tactics have not paid off, Cotter insists she has what it takes to go all the way.
“She’s relatively relaxed at home,” he added. “She shows you that she's a good horse but she won't show the potential that she shows on the track, nor do we ever ask her.
“She's a super mare to travel, she's done loads of racing in England and France and there’s never been any issue.
“As soon as she’s saddled up, or sees a jockey, the switch just flicks, she turns into a different horse and a lot of the good horses are like that.
“As trainers, we've all had plenty of horses that fly at home and just don't produce it on the track - she’s the polar opposite.”