[From Saudi Cup Official Release] Irishman Kieran Cotter will embark on his first ever international raid next week as he gets set to saddle star filly Matilda Picotte in the Group 2 Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint on Saudi Cup night, February 24th.
The daughter of Sioux Nation blossomed into a high-class three-year-old last season, finishing third in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, before landing the G3 Sceptre Stakes and G2 Challenge Stakes on her most recent run in October. The 1351 Turf Sprint will be the filly’s first start in 135 days, but Cotter believes he’s got her right where he wants her.
“She obviously had a busy three-year-old season, so we’ve given her a nice break over the winter so far, but she’s 100 per cent tuned up for this. You can’t turn up to a race like this and only be 95 per cent,” Cotter said.
“What she has done for us is immeasurable to be honest. To say you’ve been involved in a superstar, which she is to us, is very special.
“She’s brought us to a place that we could never have dreamed of going, it’s mindboggling. As for the race, I think she has a huge chance. With the greatest respect about all the well-regarded challengers in the race, our filly couldn’t give a hoot about them! It’s great to know that we’ve got a horse who will be giving 100 percent and you can’t ask for much more than that.”
Cotter enjoyed a short career as a jump jockey in England and initially handled a small number of horses while involved in construction in Ireland at the turn of the century. However, when the Irish property bubble burst in 2007, Cotter’s focus was forced to turn to his equine business partners.
“I’ve been involved in horses all my life,” he explained. “I was involved in the building game and when things were going well I made a bit of money and built my gallops, but then the crash came. We lost a lot in those years and most of what I had left was the horses, so that’s where I focussed.”
With Cotter’s stock on the rise after that, owner Thomas McGrath, who’s now one of a small group of shareholders in Matilde Picotte, was looking to have horses at his yard on the Laois-Kildare border.
“Thomas sent me a horse that had been in training in another yard, and I told him to take it away. He couldn’t believe I wouldn’t have it given we only had about six horses in training, but we needed some quality, and I told Thomas we’d go and find him a horse,” said Cotter.
“I got him a nice Dragon Pulse yearling – Rhythm Of Zain – who went on to win three nurseries. So, Thomas asked me to buy another one, and that turned out to be Matilda.
“The very first day she came into the yard, I rode a piece of work on her, and I had to pull back. The natural talent was there right from the word go. I couldn’t really tell quite how she good she might be just from her homework, as she doesn’t fully come alive until she gets to the track. When she sees a jockey, the switch flicks and she turns into a different beast.”
Matilda Picotte caught the eye of the racing world last season, not least some big owners, and Cotter revealed he’s fortunate to still have the horse in his care.
“There are around 10 who own shares in Matilda, which is lucky, as if it was just one there was probably enough money on the table from prospective buyers for them to be tempted,” he said.
“We’ve been offered some serious, serious money for her, so full credit to the owners who are sticking with her and rolling the dice. The prize money in Saudi is obviously a big draw, so hopefully we can get some of it.”
Three-time champion Flat jockey Oisin Murphy is two from two on the filly, and is set to be in the saddle once again.
“Oisin has been fantastic with her and he can’t wait to get back on board again, so he’ll definitely be travelling over for the ride,” added the trainer.
(18/2/2024)
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