Connections of You Got To Me are eagerly anticipating next season after confirming that the Irish Oaks winner will be put away for the winter following a disappointing performance in the St Leger.
After finishing fourth in the Oaks at Epsom and the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, Ralph Beckett’s filly enjoyed a memorable moment when she secured a Classic victory at the Curragh in July. She then came close, finishing a strong second to Content in the Yorkshire Oaks the following month.
However, after being supplemented for the final Classic at Doncaster, the daughter of Nathaniel struggled and finished last of seven runners. She is now set to return as a four-year-old.
Reflecting on her performance at Doncaster, Alex Elliott, racing adviser to part-owner Valmont, stated: “The main issue for this filly all year has been the pace of the races; they didn’t go quick enough. She didn’t really settle until they turned into the straight, and at that distance, you can’t afford to waste any energy, especially at that level.”
“She’s had a busy year and is now finished for the season. She’s back at Newsells Park Stud for a well-deserved break, and we’re looking forward to next year with her. If she’s ready in time, we could consider Dubai, followed by some of the top mile-and-a-half races.”
Another Beckett-trained filly that the Valmont team is excited about is Sandtrap, who impressed in her racecourse debut at Salisbury earlier this month.
While the daughter of Lope De Vega does not currently have any major race entries, Elliott is open to the possibility of her stepping up in class before the season concludes.
“She’s been doing everything on her own, and Ralph has taken his time with her. Being a May 15 foal, she’s really bred to shine as a three-year-old, so her debut win at two exceeded our expectations,” he said.
“She came out of the race in great shape, and it’s just a matter of whether Ralph wants to run her again this season. The signs are promising, though. All options are on the table, and we’ll defer to Ralph on when and where to run her. If that means entering a stakes race, we’d be confident, as she certainly looked the part in her win. Based on what she’s shown and her breeding, we believe she has the potential to develop into a high-class filly.”