Skitter Scatter Proves Much the Best in Moyglare Stud Stakes
September 16th, 2018
On paper, Sunday’s prestigious Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I) at the Curragh in Ireland appeared to be a wide-open event destined to produce a very close finish.
The seven-furlong “Win and You’re In” prep race for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. I) attracted a field of ten promising two-year-old fillies, the majority of whom could boast solid form lines filled with potential. But in the end, it was the experienced Skitter Scatter—with six starts prior starts under her belt—who emerged from the pack to score a decisive triumph, turning a seemingly competitive race into a one-horse procession.
With Ronan Whelan in the saddle for trainer Patrick Prendergast, the U.S.-bred daughter of Scat Daddy got off to an alert start, but quickly settled in mid-pack as the accomplished Main Edition carved out the pace under star jockey Frankie Dettori. Zagitova, from the stable of Aidan O’Brien, and Beyond Reason, representing Charlie Appleby, were other well-regarded contenders racing near the front of the field.
But in the final two furlongs, as the runners spread across the track and bid for glory, Main Edition could find no more and neither could Zagitova and Beyond Reason, which allowed the longshot Lady Kaya to seize the lead. However, her advantage was brief, as Skitter Scatter was threading her way between rivals and soon came roaring out of the pack, rolling past Lady Kaya late in the race to score by a definitive two lengths. The O’Brien-trained Hermosa rallied late to finish third, a neck in front of Zagitova, while Main Edition and Beyond Reason rounded out the top six.
For Skitter Scatter, the Moyglare Stud Stakes marked her third straight win and her fourth victory overall. It was also her third triumph in a group stakes race, stamping her as one of the most accomplished young fillies in Europe, and Skitter Scatter's clear-cut margin of victory helped earn her a career-best Racing Post Rating of 112.
It is not yet clear whether Skitter Scatter will make the trip to Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; notably, Patrick Prendergast has never started a horse in North America, so the trip would be a new experience. Then again, it’s not all that uncommon for Moyglare Stud Stakes winners to contest the Juvenile Fillies Turf (Sky Lantern, Intricately, and Happily have all attempted the double since 2012), and if Skitter Scatter does come to Churchill Downs, her obvious class and talent would make her an intriguing player in a typically wide-open race.
With Ronan Whelan in the saddle for trainer Patrick Prendergast, the U.S.-bred daughter of Scat Daddy got off to an alert start, but quickly settled in mid-pack as the accomplished Main Edition carved out the pace under star jockey Frankie Dettori. Zagitova, from the stable of Aidan O’Brien, and Beyond Reason, representing Charlie Appleby, were other well-regarded contenders racing near the front of the field.
But in the final two furlongs, as the runners spread across the track and bid for glory, Main Edition could find no more and neither could Zagitova and Beyond Reason, which allowed the longshot Lady Kaya to seize the lead. However, her advantage was brief, as Skitter Scatter was threading her way between rivals and soon came roaring out of the pack, rolling past Lady Kaya late in the race to score by a definitive two lengths. The O’Brien-trained Hermosa rallied late to finish third, a neck in front of Zagitova, while Main Edition and Beyond Reason rounded out the top six.
For Skitter Scatter, the Moyglare Stud Stakes marked her third straight win and her fourth victory overall. It was also her third triumph in a group stakes race, stamping her as one of the most accomplished young fillies in Europe, and Skitter Scatter's clear-cut margin of victory helped earn her a career-best Racing Post Rating of 112.
It is not yet clear whether Skitter Scatter will make the trip to Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; notably, Patrick Prendergast has never started a horse in North America, so the trip would be a new experience. Then again, it’s not all that uncommon for Moyglare Stud Stakes winners to contest the Juvenile Fillies Turf (Sky Lantern, Intricately, and Happily have all attempted the double since 2012), and if Skitter Scatter does come to Churchill Downs, her obvious class and talent would make her an intriguing player in a typically wide-open race.
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