Termagant (horse)

Termagant made her racecourse debut in a maiden race over seven furlongs at Leopardstown Racecourse on 11 June and started a 14/1 outsider in a five-runner field. After being restrained in the early stages she went to the front a furlong out and broke clear of her opponents to win by two lengths from the Aidan O'Brien-trained Cabaret.[7]

After a break of two and a half months, the filly returned to the track and was moved up sharply in class to contest the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on heavy ground at the Curragh on 30 August. Lillie Langtry started favourite in the seven-runner field ahead of Long Lashes (winner of the Sweet Solera Stakes) and the Jim Bolger-trained Gile Na Greine with Termagant next in the betting on 16/1 alongside her stablemate Wrong Answer (Marble Hill Stakes). Termagant was settled in mid-division as the 66/1 outsider Famous set the pace from Gold Bubbles and Long Lashes, but made a forward move entering the last quarter mile. She took the lead approaching the final furlong and stayed on well to win by two and a half lengths from Famous, with Lillie Langtry in third.[8] After the race Kevin Prendergast said "It was always the plan to come here after her debut win. She might not run again this season. I hope she'll be just as good on decent ground, but it could be that this is her ground".[9]

On 23 May Termagant made her first and only appearance of 2010 in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. Before the race Prendergast explained that the filly had been held up in her progress by the exceptionally cold winter but had recently been "working nicely".[10] Starting the 8/1 fifth choice in the nineteen-runner field she raced towards the rear before making some progress in the last quarter mile and finished ninth, five lengths behind the winner Bethrah.[11]

After an absence of almost ten months Termagant returned in the Group 3 Park Express Stakes at the Curragh in March. She started joint-favourite but came home fourth of the nine runners behind Lolly For Dolly. On 2 May she was matched against male opposition in the Mooresbridge Stakes over ten furlongs but made little impact, finishing a distant fourth behind So You Think. Nineteen days after the Mooresbridge Stakes Termagant was equipped with blinkers for the first time in the Equestrian Stakes at the same track. She took the lead soon after the start and opened up a clear lead before fading badly and finishing last of the nine runners.[12]