John Oxx hails Guineas claims of underrated Skitter Scatter

Skitter Scatter is on course to run in the fillies’ Classic at Newmarket. Picture: Racingfotos.com

John Oxx believes Skitter Scatter was “constantly underrated” last season and hopes she can get his new partnership with neighbour Patrick Prendergast off to a flying start by landing the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5.

The latter supervised Skitter Scatter‘s highly-successful juvenile campaign that saw her win three Group races, culminating in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, as she emerged as a serious contender for the 1000 Guineas, second race in this year’s QIPCO British Champions Series..

Oxx is now the official trainer of the Scat Daddy filly, after Prendergast handed in his licence and joined forces with the Currabeg handler.

“She was constantly underrated by people last year and kept improving. She improved again when she was stretched out in distance, and it remains to be seen how she will train on,” Oxx said on Wednesday.

“She doesn’t require a lot of work and we haven’t pressed her hard yet. I hope to have her ready to have her first run in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

“She’s plenty big enough, but the worry is that other horses are going to progress more than her. She has a big heart and a good temperament, which will carry her a long way.

“In the Moyglare she looked beat at halfway on soft ground, but in the end won easily. Her relaxed style will help her get a mile, and you wouldn’t expect her to get any more than that.”

Oxx, speaking at the launch of new Irish Flat season, which starts at Naas on Sunday, has every faith his association with Prendergast will prove a successful one.

He said: “Patrick is a man I have always got on well with and I’ve known him all his life.

“I like the way he does things and we get on very well together. It was a very easy decision for me to make to join up – I’m sure a bit more difficult for him as he was after having his best year as a trainer.

“He has brought some more horses which we needed and a couple of good ones, in particular Skitter Scatter.”