Moyglare ace Skitter Scatter to bypass Breeders' as Prendergast eyes Guineas

Skitter Scatter, a live player for next year’s 1,000 Guineas after Sunday’s victory in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh, will bypass a trip to Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup with Patrick Prendergast already thinking about a three-year-old campaign for his stable star.

Prendergast, who along with his big-race jockey Ronan Whelan, was breaking his Group 1 duck with Skitter Scatter on Sunday, will resist the temptation to travel in order to give the filly every opportunity of winning next year’s 1,000 Guineas, for which she is a general 16-1 chance with most firms.

“The Breeders’ Cup win and you're in offer is a very generous one but we’re not going to take them up on it and her hind shoes have been taken off, so we can’t change our minds now,” Prendergast revealed.

He added: “She’ll get a well-deserved holiday in a week's time or so. I’ll be looking forward to the spring with her now and we can start thinking about 1,000 Guineas trials and the 1,000 Guineas itself.

Skitter Scatter: faces a tall order, according to John OxxCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

“She showed an awful amount of speed early on in her career, but she has started to grow a little and I would put the improvement down to a step up in trip – she seems to have relished it.

“Ronan got off her on Sunday and actually said how he’s looking forward to riding her over a mile. I’m quite confident she’ll get a mile. She has a wonderful attitude and the little break will be very good for her.”

Asked to reflect on what it meant to enter the coveted Group 1 club, Prendergast added: “What really threw me on Sunday was the reception we got. It was overwhelming.

"I know there’s plenty of factors – I’m a small yard, it was mine and Ronan’s first Group 1, and of course he’s a hugely popular fellow.

"Then we’re both Kildare men so there would have been lots of locals there, but the reception and the feeling of goodwill towards us was humbling, and it was hard not to be emotional.”

Skitter Scatter may have run her last race of the year, but plans are fluid for Moyglare second Lady Kaya, with the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket being mentioned as a likely target by trainer Sheila Lavery.

Lady Kaya: Cheveley Park Stakes a likely targetCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

“She showed loads of pace at the Curragh and we’re thinking about dropping her back to six furlongs at Newmarket for the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes for her next run,” Lavery said.

Lady Kaya is a best-priced 10-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair for the Cheveley Park Stakes on Saturday September 29.

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