[4] Like the rest of Petre's horses, Matilda was trained by John Scott, who sent out the winners of 41 classics, from his Whitewall Stables at Malton in North Yorkshire.

Matilda began her racing career on 9 August 1826 in a sweepstakes at York Racecourse in which she finished unplaced behind a colt named Popsy.

Ridden by Sim Templeman, she recorded her first win "in a canter"[6] by beating the colts Moonshine (subsequently the winner of the Champagne Stakes) and Reviewer.

Ridden by Bill Scott, she led from the start, set a strong pace and "won easy"[6] from Moonshine and Kit Cat.

There were suspicions that Lockwood, and many of the jockeys had been bribed to delay the start for as long as possible in the hope of upsetting Mameluke and preventing the southern horse from winning.

She was expected to run well, starting the 7/4 favourite,[15] but seemed unable to cope with the soft ground and finished third of the four runners behind Lady Georgiana and Popsy.

[17] On 8 October Matilda ran in the Gold Cup at Richmond, North Yorkshire and finished second of the eight runners behind her stable companion Delphine.