'We've always liked her' - Satyress registers four-timer as Harriet Bethell's season continues to improve

'She's enjoying herself big time' - how a paddock rethink has sparked four-timer for Satyress

Satyress: completed a four-timer at Thirsk Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Click here to add us to your Google preferred sources or find out more here

A change to the pre-race routine has worked wonders for Satyress, who completed a four-timer in the 1m4f apprentice handicap.

The daughter of Waldgeist failed to win any of her six starts last season, but she began this campaign with a promising fourth at Pontefract in June before opening her account at Beverley later that month.

Wins at Hamilton and Newcastle followed before the four-year-old stretched her winning run to four with a two-and-a-half-length defeat of Off Spin under Tom Kiely-Marshall.

Winning trainer Harriet Bethell said: "She's enjoying herself big time. She's not done anything wrong, but it's probably because of my terrible training last year that she's now winning.

"We've always liked her at home, but at the races it's not worked out and it's been about keeping a lid on her."

Bethell revealed a change to the preliminaries has helped unlock Satyress' improvement.

She said: "We keep her in the pre-parade ring right up until it's time for the jockeys to go down to the start. She'll do one loop of the paddock and she goes, and it's worked well."

Bethell, who is operating at a 21 per cent strike-rate this season, will take her time before deciding whether to run Satyress again soon.

She said: "We'll let the dust settle and see how she comes out of this one, but she's a tough little filly, especially in the finish."

Majestic treble

Majestic Jude and Fractional contributed to an across-the-card treble for William Haggas with victories in the 7f novice and mile fillies' handicap.

Read these next:

Jubilant Saffie Osborne revelling in 'surreal' St Leger triumph - and could the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award be next?

The 40-1 St Leger fourth who has never won a race - and why Richard Hannon is dreaming big with a colt who 'has everything'

Michael Dods ready to unleash the 'best' juvenile he's had in Saturday's Mill Reef