Top French mare Kotkikova joins McManus Top French mare Kotkikova is set to join Nicky Henderson's team after being bought by leading owner JP McManus. The five-year-old boasted 11 wins in 14 starts for Jean-Paul Gallorini, winning a Grade One chase as well as being placed at the highest level over hurdles. Kotkikova has won twice over hurdles at Auteuil in recent weeks and was a notable contender for Saturday's Prix La Barka, which she now bypasses following her sale. The daughter of Martaline will summer in Ireland with options open as to which discipline she will tackle over the winter. McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said: "She looks a very nice mare and it's nice to have her. "She's going to be trained by Nicky Henderson and she's coming to Ireland for the summer now. "She'll go to Nicky in the autumn and we'll play it by ear (on whether to run over hurdles or fences)." Kotkikova is one of three high-profile new recruits for McManus, with The Organist and Le Prezien being bought for 260,000 pounds and 290,000 pounds respectively at the Goffs UK Spring Sale in Doncaster on Wednesday.
