La Cucaracha (horse)
La Cucaracha remained in training at five and recorded another major victory on her final racecourse appearance when she won the King George Stakes.
Three weeks later the filly started 1/2 favourite for a minor stakes race at Newbury Racecourse and won "comfortably" by two and a half lengths from the Mick Channon-trained Ma'Soola.
Eleven months after her last start, La Cucaracha returned in the Listed Lansdown Fillies' Stakes race over five furlongs at Bath Racecourse on 27 April 2004 and recovered from interference in the last quarter mile to finish second, three-quarters of a length behind the five-year-old mare Ringmoor Down.
[9] Ten days later she finished third to the six-year-old gelding Celtic Mill in the Leisure Stakes at Windsor Racecourse before further injury problems kept her off the course for the remainder of the year.
[10] La Cucaracha returned from her second lengthy absence to contest the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster Racecourse on 2 April 2005 and started a 14/1 outsider in an eleven-runner field headed by the veteran handicapper Smokin Beau.
After being restrained by Hills in the early stages, the filly took the lead a furlong out and recorded her first important win, beating the five-year-old gelding The Kiddykid by half a length.
For her next race, La Cucaracha was sent to Ireland for the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse on 1 June and started 9/2 second favourite behind her fellow English raider Kind.
After tracking the leaders, she took the lead approaching the final furlong but was overtaken in the closing stages and beaten three lengths by the Richard Hannon Sr.-trained Lucky Spin.
La Cucaracha accelerated into the lead inside the final furlong and held off a strong late challenge from The Tatling to win by a head, with Majestic Missile taking third ahead of Boogie Street and Benbaun.
She finished second behind the three-year-old colt Goodricke with Somnus, Proclamation, Lucky Spin, The Kiddykid and the Stewards' Cup winner Gift Horse among the other beaten runners.
In June at Royal Ascot she started joint second favourite for the King's Stand Stakes but finished unplaced behind the Australian sprinter Takeover Target after racing along the unfavorable stands-side of the course.
She was made the 7/2 favourite in a field which included The Tatling, Fayr Jag, Strike Up The Band and Majestic Missile as well as the Cheveley Park Stakes winner Donna Blini.
After being held up towards the rear, La Cucaracha began to make progress approaching the final furlong, took the lead 75 yards from the finish and won by three quarters of a length from the six-year-old gelding Desert Lord.
