Kieran Cotter | Horse Racing Free Tips

“She Has A Huge Chance” – Matilda Picotte Bids For Big-Race Saudi Riches

Trainer Kieran Cotter says that he is optimistic his stable star Matilda Picotte (Ire), a filly he has continuously turned down big-money offers for, will put her best foot forward in the valuable Group 2 Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint on February 24.

The daughter of Sioux Nation developed into a high-class three-year-old last season, finishing third in the G1 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket before landing the G3 Sceptre S. and G2 Challenge S. in the autumn.

The 1351 Turf Sprint will be the filly's first start of the new campaign and the trainer says he couldn't be happier with her ahead of the valuable contest.

Cotter said, “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. 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 mind-boggling. 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 per cent and you can't ask for much more than that.”

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 [sums of] 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.

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Cotter Fined €27,500 For Cobalt Positive, Misconduct

Trainer Kieran Cotter was fined €27,500 by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Referrals Committee and must pay a further €7,500 in legal costs. One of his runners, Slade Runner (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}), tested positive for cobalt and the IHRB found further misconduct by the trainer following a yard inspection.

Slade Runner won a Dundalk handicap in January and returned a cobalt reading higher than the international threshold. After the cobalt positive, there was a joint inspection of Cotter's yard by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) and officers of the IHRB on Feb. 3. Cotter was found to be in breach of Rule 96(a), that disqualified the winner, Slade Runner, and that both the stake and prize-money were forfeited. The IHRB Committee fined Cotter €2,500 for this rule breach.

A number of charges were also brought against Cotter after the yard inspection, with the trainer in breach of a number of provisions under Rule 148:

No medicines register was maintained by the trainer prior to February of 2021 for any of his horses.
Used syringes and needles were left lying in a number of locations in the premises, with Cotter stating he had no knowledge of their presence and had not used them.
The presence also of a large number of unused syringes and needles in the barn.
The apparent general use of veterinary medicines, other than under veterinary supervision which suggested that Cotter was self-medicating some of the horses in his care.
The apparent administration via intravenous injection of medicines without veterinary oversight, contrary to proper procedures.
Reckless disregard to the potential effects or consequences to administering the cobalt drench to Slade Runner in particular.

Although the IHRB Referrals Committee did not find Cotter in breach of the rules for possession of illegal substances in his yard or in breach of Rule 273(xiii), they noted that his conduct was that of a serious nature. They imposed a €5,000 fine in respect of a breach of Rule 148(I), in reference that the trainer is responsible for everything connected with the welfare, training and running of all horses under the care of that trainer and that Slade Runner was administered cobalt the day before the race. A €20,000 fine was leveled against Cotter in respect to a breach of Rule 148(iii) in that he had failed to maintain his medicines register, failed to ensure that he and each of his staff having access to medicines were fully conversant with the rules and regulations relating to prohibited substances and that he had failed to be responsible for the safe keeping and administration of medicines having failed to securely lock the medicine cabinet.

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Cotter: ‘Ascot-Bound Matilda Picotte Not For Sale At Any Price’

No amount of money will persuade the owners of impressive Curragh maiden winner Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) to give up on their dream of walking into the winner's enclosure at Royal Ascot, according to the filly's trainer Kieran Cotter, who said “everyone wants a slice” of the Queen Mary-bound speedster.

Matilda Picotte maintained the flying start of Coolmore's first-season sire Sioux Nation by making all to score on debut at the Curragh on Monday and, in doing so, she landed some hefty wagers.

The owners of the filly are not for selling, with Cotter revealing a number of potential suitors have already been turned away, and connections of Matilda Picotte are now keen to roll the dice with the classy prospect.

Cotter explained, “The phone has been hopping mad since Monday. Everyone is looking for a slice of her but she's not for sale at this point at least. The lads are going to sit quiet. There are a few lads involved in her so, if they were to sell her now, she would make a lot of money but, by the time you divided it all up, it wouldn't be a life-changing amount for everyone involved.

“As well as that, there a couple of lads involved who have had no luck with horses for years so, now that they have found one who is potentially smart enough to take them to Royal Ascot, they are prepared to roll the dice. This is the first turn they are after getting out of horses so I would say that they are in no hurry to cash in.”

Matilda Picotte is the fourth horse by Sioux Nation to have won its maiden at the first time of asking and it didn't come as a surprise to those closest to the filly given they backed her from odds as big as 40-1 down to a starting price of just 8-1.

Cotter said, “When you go to a Curragh maiden first time out, you know that you could bump into anything, but we thought it would take a very smart horse to beat her. She opened up at 40-1 and we backed her into 5-1 before she went back out to 8-1 on the off. We had a few quid on but, in hindsight, we should have had more on.”

He added, “Jim Ryan bred the filly and it was a bit of a coincidence that her half-sister Ginsburg (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) won an apprentices' handicap on the same day. She was working really well about a month ago and we said, half jokingly, Queen Mary here we come-we're going to Royal Ascot. Now it looks like it could be a reality.”

Before then, Matilda Picotte could be aimed at the Marble Hill S. at the Curragh on May 21, with Cotter making the wider point that these big-race ambitions wouldn't be possible if he were training over jumps in Ireland.

He explained, “We will go for the Marble Hill S. at the Curragh next and then hopefully it will be all systems go for Royal Ascot. The dream is alive.

“It's easier to get a good horse on the Flat in Ireland as the jumps is just monopolised by a handful of trainers. It's probably even more financially viable for owners to go and buy a horse on the Flat as well because there is a much quicker turnaround.”

He added, “None of our horses cost more than €20,000 or €30,000. You wouldn't get a third grade jumps horse at the store sales for that sort of money.”

“We've six 2-year-olds, two of which have won already, and with a bit of luck we'll have another few juvenile winners because they are a nice bunch. Most of our winners are in the speed category-five or six furlongs.”

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