Kateeva (right) stays on best to beat Battleroftheboyne© Photo Healy Racing
14/1 shot Kateeva recorded her fourth career success as she took the Connolly's Red Mills China Partnership Handicap over six furlongs for trainer Joe Fogarty with Leigh Roche in the saddle.
The 5yo daughter of Statue Of Liberty won in quick succession at Laytown and Listowel last September and then finished second on her next start at Cork in October.
However since that effort at Cork she had been out of form on her next four starts.
Last time out she finished a very disappointing sixteenth of seventeen in the race won by Queen Grace at Tipperary last month on good to firm ground.
Back on her favoured surface (soft to heavy) today she made good progress to challenge along the rail inside the final furlong, getting up to win near the line by a half a length from Battleroftheboyne in second at 12/1 under Ben Curtis. Erins Gal was a further two lengths back in third at 20/1 under Rory Cleary for Seamus O’Donnell while yesterday’s Navan winner Allegra Tak was a nose back in fourth under Pat Smullen for Harry Rogers at 5/1 joint favourite.
The other 5/1 joint favourite was Lake George but he disappointed and finished tenth under Ronan Whelan for James Barrett.
There was a major on course gamble on the James Nash trained Danehill Promise who was backed from 16/1 into 6/1 at the off but the money went astray as he could only manage ninth under Chris Hayes.
Winning trainer Joe Fogarty said afterwards: "It’s good to win a competitive race here. A winner here is worth any money for breeding and whatever.
"The ground was right for her, it was too firm in Tipperary but this was just right as she likes a cut. The ground will dictate where she goes now."
Donal Murphy & Gary Carson
