Betrah set for Canadian trip

Irish 1000 Guineas winner Bethrah could be prepared for a trip to Canada after being beaten into fifth in Saturday’s Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Dermot Weld’s three-year-old had been off the track since tasting Classic glory in May and looked badly in need of the run as she faded in the closing stages.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, was not too disheartened and has revealed the EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine on October 16 is on her agenda.

“I don’t think she was that disappointing and we knew she was going to need the run,” said Gold.

“It was her first run in a long time and she was the one who went to have a go at the leader earliest and I think that tired her out.

“She’ll be a bit straighter now and we might go a bit further as well, so hopefully we might squeak another Group One somewhere.

“I need to speak to Sheikh Hamdan but I know he would like to aim for the EP Taylor Stakes.

“We’ll just have to see whether he wants to see her run over here first.”