Promising Son Of Vadamos Draws Clear At Newbury

Matata (5g Vadamos - Wattrey, by Royal Academy) proved a class above his rivals in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

The son of Vadamos won a four-year-old maiden on his sole start for David Murphy and impressed on his first start for new connections in a Novice Hurdle. Runner-up on his next two starts, he was sent off joint-favourite under topweight on Saturday and was ridden to make all by regular rider Daryl Jacob. Drawing clear from the second last, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge was pushed out to score by 11 lengths.

There is further improvement to come from Matata, according to Daryl Jacob, who said, “He is a long way from the finished article and he's just a baby.”

Bred by Donal Commins, Matata is now owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. His sire Vadamos joined the Grange Stud roster in 2021 and his first national hunt foals were well-received at the sales, fetching up to €64,000.