Matilda takes big swing in Prix Rothschild
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The German-bred filly Matilda finished fifth at 19-1 debuting March 30 at Cologne in a conditions race. Two starts and four months later, much has changed – including her owner, trainer, and jockey, and country of residence.
At odds of 9-1, Matilda romped second time out in another Cologne conditions race, and at 25-1 on May 18, she absolutely crushed eight rivals, six of them colts, in the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas. Tracking the leader in a one-turn mile, Matilda took command in midstretch and powered to a 6 1/2-length victory.
Folks took notice. Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm bought the filly, sent her to France with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, and on Sunday Matilda takes a sizeable class hike into the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville Racecourse.
Matilda, Maxim Guyon named to ride, is among 13 entrants in the Rothschild, a sex-restricted straight-course mile. She’s one of six 3-year-olds who get eight pounds from their older rivals, though only one 3-year-old, Mother Earth in 2021, has won the last six Rothschild renewals.
Aidan O’Brien trained Mother Earth and has two runners, January and Exactly, for this Rothschild. Graffard runs three, the 3-year-old Mandanaba and 4-year-old longshot Pinta joining Matilda in the starting gate. Mandanaba looked a key player June 15 in the Prix de Diane, the French Oaks, but came home a somewhat disappointing fourth of 12 and on Sunday gets a cut back in distance from 1 3/16 miles that might suit her. That said, her new stablemate, Matilda, looks a miler through and through. She’s yet to run down a straight course, but her German 2000 Guineas did not have the air of a fluke.
January looks like the stronger O’Brien charge, and she’ll be formidable if she can run back to her Falmouth Stakes on July 15 at Newmarket, where January in a straight-course mile came within a half-length of multiple top-level winner Cinderella’s Dream. January has hit a higher mark than her stablemate Exactly but also might require firmer footing, and as of Friday the Deauville course was rated soft.
England-based co-trainers John and Thady Gosden also have two runners. Crimson Advocate finished third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in the Falmouth after winning the Duke of Cambridge over Cinderella’s Dream at Royal Ascot. At Ascot, former American runner Crimson Advocate raced around a bend, which might be required for her peak. Spiritual has been brought along slowly and patiently and gets her first shot in a Group 1 after an easy Group 3 score going 1 1/16 miles at Epsom Downs.
◗ Trainer Ralph Beckett said late this week that he’s pointing Qirat, massive upset winner of the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday at Goodwood Racecourse, toward the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The Sussex is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series and Qirat has automatic fees-paid entry into the Mile.
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