Katla can

The John Grogan trained Katla gained a second Listed success when scoring a short head win in the Dark Angel European Breeders Fund Sweet Mimosa Stakes at Naas this evening.

Ridden as always by Bill Lee, the daughter Majestic Missile got her head in front at the line to deny Empowering by a short head, with Alanza a staying on third.

Afterwards Grogan stated “I didn’t think she was going to get up! We were hoping there would be plenty of pace but they went quite slow early on but Joseph (O’Brien, on Empowering) did quicken the pace.”

“We ran her over five furlongs at Ayr in June but she was short of a bit of work. She might go for a five furlong race at Tipperary on August 5 next and could go for a six furlong race at Ascot later in the year too.”

Alanza, under Johnny Murtagh, (3/1f) was a controversial third at Leopardstown over this trip three weeks ago and again shaped with plenty of promise, running on well for a never nearer third.

The daughter of Dubai Destination was again caught flat-footed before staying on well late on, over a trip which is clearly on the sharp side. Regarding her presence in the 6f race, her trainer John Oxx had been on record as saying there were no suitable races for fillies over seven furlong or a mile at this time of year.

Thomas Weekes