YORK-BOUND SO MAJESTIC TO GIVE MCGIVERN FIRST-EVER GROUP 1 RUNNER
Katie McGivern is hoping So Majestic can outrun her odds in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.
Almost a year ago, Live In The Dream caused a 28/1 surprise in the £500,000 Group 1. Now McGivern is targeting the same race with So Majestic, an 80/1 shot with Sky Bet, title sponsors of the four-day Ebor Festival.
McGivern owns and trains the 90-rated four-year-old filly, whose best piece of form was a half-length third when priced 150/1 for a Listed race at Naas in May.
Wexford-based McGivern, who is primarily a breeze-up consignor, had also entered So Majestic at York in Wednesday’s five-furlong Visit Irish Yearling Sale With ITM Fillies’ Handicap. But she has opted to wait a further 48 hours and take on the speedballs with what will be her first-ever Group 1 runner.
McGivern said: “She obviously hasn’t ran in a race as good as this – and she is very much an outsider – but I think the conditions of the race will suit.
“I didn’t want to run her in the handicap in case it ended up messy, whereas, the Group 1 is going to be true from start to finish. They are going to go hard and the best horse wins. I’ve yet to run her in a race like that.
“She is very fast, but it’s very hard to get her conditions – she’s very select. She wants fast ground and she wants a very fast five (furlongs) and she wants loads of pace. If she comes down-field, fine – I tried it.
“Maybe I should have gone for the fillies’ handicap. But I’ve done a load of research and last year’s winner of that, on their time, could have been third in the Nunthorpe.
“She’s that much pace that she’d match Live In The Dream’s pace. I’m not saying she’ll stay like him. That’s a very unknown for me – will she stay it after going that blistering pace?
“She definitely has that pace to use early-race, whereas in Ireland they don’t use that. They ride way more a waiting race and it doesn’t suit her and it’s very frustrating.
“We’ll see what she’s made of on Friday. There’s no pressure, because I’m a big outsider. I just hope she runs her race. If she finished in the first six, it’s a massive run. There’s no high expectations – it’s very much we’re hopeful. She definitely has pace for a Group 1 – whether she can stay on at the end, that’s what I want to see. But it’s worth a go.”