Katla prevails in thriller

KATLA, the only horse trained by John Grogan in New Inn, County Tipperary, recorded her second listed success when pipping Empowering in the Dark Angel Sweet Mimosa Stakes in Naas last night.

The Majestic Missile filly, successful at a similar level in York last October, travelled strongly under Billy Lee, challenged inside the final furlong and edged-out Empowering, which had made a valiant bid to make all. Favourite Alanza was a fast-finishing third, just a half-length adrift.

Winning owner/trainer/breeder Grogan declared: “I didn’t think she’d get up. But Billy rode a great race and got there just in time.”