Matron start of autumn campaign for Bethrah Bethrah starts what could be a fascinating autumn campaign when she returns to action in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday. The Dermot Weld-trained filly has not raced since getting up in the dying strides to land the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh in May. Although connections believe neither the distance nor the ground will be perfect, they are keen to get the daughter of Marju back on the racecourse. "It's great to see her back on the track. Dermot originally hoped to run her in the Coronation at Royal Ascot but she worked a bit flat, so we had no option and gave her a break," said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. "Dermot kept her for an autumn campaign. She won't mind a bit of easy ground, but the ground will be quick enough by the sound of it in Ireland. "The other thing is everybody thought she'd get a mile and a quarter. The mile will be plenty sharp enough for her now. It's really a starting point and it will tell us where we are going from here. "It's a strong-looking race, but we have to start back somewhere." Connections of Music Show believe the Mick Channon-trained filly has excellent prospects of grasping a second Group One prize. The three-year-old outpointed Spacious in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting, before finishing a creditable second to Goldikova in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville. "She's got a great chance in this race. I'm pretty confident she'll beat the filly (Bethrah) that beat her in the Irish Guineas," said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah. "She has improved considerably since the spring, so I think she's got a really good winning chance. "Spacious went very fast that day but we still beat her by two lengths, so I'd be surprised if she beat Music Show." Coronation Stakes heroine Lillie Langtry needs to bounce back to form after disappointing in the Falmouth Stakes on her latest start. Big-race jockey Johnny Murtagh said: "She was a bit disappointing at Newmarket, but maybe the run at Ascot took its toll. "She seems in good form now and we hope she'll be back to her best on Saturday."
