Katiola battles gamely to hold off Jack Daddy on the inside© Photo Healy Racing
The well backed favourite, Katiola for John Oxx and Johnny Murtagh took the last at Leopardstown this evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 3yo Maiden over 1m 4f.
Having opened at 11/4 with Paddy Powers this morning, the 3yo daughter of Oratorio, opened on track at 2/1 before being backed into 11/8 favourite at the off.
After chasing in the leaders in the early stages she was third at the halfway point.
She was ridden to challenge under two furlongs out before gaining a narrow lead inside the final 200 yards.
She kept on well under pressure from there to hold off the Joe Murphy trained Jack Daddy (3/1) by half a length.
The front pair went four and three parts of a length clear of Buckingham Gate who finished third also at 3/1 for Aidan & Joseph O’Brien.
Winning trainer John Oxx said afterwards: "She did that well. Her first run was on very soft ground and it didn’t tell us a lot. We have been waiting a long time for this better ground.
"She will probably go for a fillies handicap next. She is a nice relaxed filly and hopefully she can improve a bit. She certainly stays well."
The winner was having just her second start this evening having finished fifth on her debut at Gowran in May behind the Dermot Weld trained Caponata.
(On-course reporting by Thomas Weekes)
