John Oxx and John Murtagh teamed up for a double at a rainy Gowran Park yesterday evening, highlighted by the Listed race success of Katiykha in the Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes.
The Darshaan filly, a three-time winner for Luca Cumani last year, made all the running in this one and a half mile event. She dug deep when strongly challenged at the furlong pole to beat Palace Royale by a length, with Simplicity the same distance back in third. 'She is tough and genuine, and ran well as a pacemaker for Enzeli in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown last month,' said Oxx.
The Aga Khan's famous green and red silks were also carried to victory by newcomer Kermiyana in the Kilkenny Maiden. The daughter of Green Desert also recorded a pillar-to-post win, and was brought wide on the turn into the straight in search of better ground by Murtagh to record a comfortable three and a half length win over Air Of Approval.
'She is a nicely bred filly, and her dam, Keraka, won the Anglesey Stakes for us. She had a couple of setbacks last year, and will run next in a winners of one on Derby weekend at the Curragh,' said the Currabeg trainer.
Aidan O'Brien saddled his eleventh juvenile winner of the campaign when Honours List landed the EBF Maiden in great style. The Danehill colt was yet another to successfully employ front-running tactics, being pushed clear in the final quarter mile by Mick Kinane for a seven length winning margin over Epic Pursuit.
