Sioux Nation’s Matilda Picotte Shines In Group 3 Feature

Matilda Picotte (3f Sioux Nation - Hallie’s Comet, by One Cool Cat) proved a class above her rivals when gaining a deserved Group 3 success in Sunday’s Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster.

Kieran Cotter’s stable star won a Listed sprint and placed in two Group 2 contests as a juvenile, and proved better than ever this season when taking third in the Group 1 1,000 Guineas. Narrowly denied in a Group 3 last time out, the daughter of Sioux Nation was ridden by Oisin Murphy for the first time on Sunday and made all of the running over seven furlongs. Quickening clear from two furlongs out, she kept on well as her rivals did their best to narrow the gap, but to no avail. The winning margin was three lengths and three quarters, with another two lengths back to the third horse. Last year’s 1,000 Guineas heroine Cachet finished fourth.

“She's a serious horse,” a delighted Kieran Cotter said after the race. “It was fantastic, she put some serious fillies to bed there. She deserved that.” Looking forward, the winning trainer continued, “Plans were on hold until after today, but we might look at the Prix de la Foret. There's another Group 3 at Newmarket that could be an option too.”

Matilda Picotte becomes a sixth Group winner from the first crop of Sioux Nation, who is responsible for another pair of Group winners in his second crop. Bred by Mighty Universe Ltd, she becomes a second Stakes winner in as many days by her sire, with Archo Nacho (Sioux Nation) having beaten a talented field in Saturday’s Listed Poseidon Stakes at Flemington.