MOYGLARE STUD STAKES

(GROUP 1)

TO the delight of everyone at the Curragh and much further afield, there was a fairytale result in the Moyglare Stud Stakes as the admirable Skitter Scatter continued her stunning rise up the ranks to give both Patrick Prendergast and Ronan Whelan a breakthrough triumph at the highest level.

For most of the season, Skitter Scatter has perhaps been underestimated by many, but last month’s Debutante Stakes triumph left no one in any doubt as to her standing amongst the elite of the juvenile fillies’ division. Indeed, for the first time in her career, the Anthony and Sonia Rogers-owned filly started as a favourite for her debut at Group 1 level.

This finish served up one of the highlights of the season as, over the last furlong or so, two of the country’s smaller yards had the outcome to themselves. Ultimately it was Prendergast and Whelan who emerged victorious but mention must go to the efforts of the Sheila Lavery-trained and Robbie Colgan-ridden runner-up Lady Kaya who turned in splendid effort to secure second.

In the aftermath of this suc cess, the eloquence with which both the winning trainer and rider displayed were a pleasure to hear. Equally enjoyable was the manner in which Skitter Scatter dug out victory as there was period after halfway where the daughter of Scat Daddy looked to be labouring in a midfield position.

At this point nothing was going as well as the strong-travelling Lady Kaya and she eased to the front around a quarter of a mile from home. Lady Kaya was still firmly in control heading into the final furlong but she began to edge left under pressure and, as her stamina began to ebb away, Skitter Scatter was in full flight on the far side of the track.

In trademark fashion, Whelan’s mount finished out her race in great style and she surged to the front to defeat Lady Kaya by two lengths. There was a further length and a quarter back to Aidan O’Brien’s Hermosa, with her stablemate Zagitova securing fourth.

Previously Skitter Scatter was the only filly apart from Maybe to complete the Silver Flash/Debutante Stakes double in the last 14 years, and in landing the Moyglare, Prendergast’s charge matched that outstanding juvenile champion.

“I’m quite astounded with good she is. I was thinking that maybe we would come here and run well and have a chance of running well in the Guineas next year. Now I’m thinking that maybe she could win the Guineas,” exclaimed an elated Prendergast, whose charge is likely to be kept under wraps until next year. “To be honest I’m a little overwhelmed and after the race I was just hoping to go off to a corner and compose myself for a couple of minutes!

“Coming into the race my worry was that it had been a long year for her but she’s just kept going and improving and she’s started to grow lately so she won’t be so small anymore.

“She is one of the best-bred fillies ever to come into my yard and my brief was to win a maiden with her. Ordinarily, she would have been sold well before now but Anthony and Mrs Rogers were adamant that they were going to race her and I’m very grateful to them.

“The beauty of a small yard like ours is that everyone is so closely involved with every horse and it may sound like a cliché but I’m just a cog in the wheel. I’m also thrilled for Ronan.

“Sometimes he just doesn’t realise how good he is and as the season wore on some jockeys were on looking for the ride on her but I said to Ronan going out today that the reason you’re riding her is that you are a world-class jockey and he’s shown that there,” concluded the trainer.

Whelan added: “She’s a filly who just keeps giving. After halfway I hit a flat spot but when I asked her for more she just kept finding. We went fast and I just wanted to have her where she was comfortable and when I went for she kept finding for me.

“The trip is no problem to her and nor was the ground and I’d say another furlong won’t be any problem for her either.

“I’m just thrilled that I’ve been able to repay Patrick and all his team with a win like this.”