Katiyra set for Epsom Despite Epsom being seemingly off the agenda for two of Ireland´s leading trainers, John Oxx has confirmed Katiyra will head for the Juddmonte Oaks on June 6th. With Jim Bolger and Dermot Weld both looking likely to skip the famous Classic, Oxx, who won the Derby with Sinndar in 2000, has given the fillies´ race a much-needed shot in the arm. An impressive winner of a Leopardstown maiden, Katiyra was a staying-on second in a 1000 Guineas trial back there last week "Katiyra has come out of Leopardstown OK - she´s been fine all week," said Oxx. "She put up a good show, it was a decent race and she was a little bit unfortunate not to be able to make her run a bit earlier - she might have won but that´s neither here nor there. The main thing was that she ran a good race and ran like she wanted further. "We just wanted to find out if she would be a 1000 Guineas candidate as well as a possible Oaks candidate but, although she´d probably run a real good race in the 1000 Guineas, we just think that it might be better to wait and stretch her out so the plan is to run her in the Oaks. "She was a little bit giddy in the stalls at Leopardstown and wasn´t focused on jumping out. She missed the kick slightly which left her in a poor early position for a filly who is a stayer - we would have liked to have her up more with the pace. "It may have been because it was her first run of the year and maybe a lack of experience but we´ll address that and she´ll have plenty of stall practice." Katiyra is a best-priced 6-1 with totesport for Epsom.
