Ed Walker: I don't know why Mutatis Mutandis threw away Curragh race
Ed Walker admitted he was surprised Mutatis Mutandis gave away her chance at the start for the second race running when she lost many lengths in the Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday
Ed Walker admitted he was surprised Mutatis Mutandis gave away her chance at the start for the second race running when she lost many lengths in the Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.
Although she had done a similar thing in the Pretty Polly at the same course on her previous start, she was found to have damaged her mouth that day.
She still finished strongly to be beaten just three lengths in sixth place behind Diamondsandrubies in the Group One.
However, she never got into contention on different ground conditions on Sunday and was eighth of nine as Wedding Vow took the Group Two honours.
Walker will attempt get the filly's confidence back in the stalls and hopefully try again in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York on August 20.
"I must admit I wasn't expecting that. I thought it was a bit of a freak accident in the Pretty Polly," said the Newmarket trainer.
"She had blood in her mouth and a broken tooth so she must have done something in the stalls on that occasion, but there were no excuses this time, she genuinely looked as if she almost refused to race.
"It's a bit alarming. We're just going to do some work on her at home and try to get her confidence back.
"She made a lot of ground up when she missed the break in the Pretty Polly because she loves fast ground, when her turn of foot kicked in, but on that rain-softened ground she was wheel-spinning and going nowhere.
"It was a real disappointment. We thought she had a great chance.
"They had 12 millimetres of rain overnight. We were there so we took our chance, but I knew it was going to be a bit of an issue.
"Once she missed the break, we were fighting a lost cause really.
"We were hoping to win that and go for the Beverly D, but we're going to probably have to skip that now. You can't afford to give away ground in a race like that.
"She's in the Yorkshire Oaks and that's a likely option. It's very often top of the ground there.
"We'll give her a good break and twiddle with her at home to get her confidence back. All is not lost, but it's back to the drawing board."