Oxx backs Katiyra to show form

NEWS ROUND-UP: KATIYRA WILL attempt to secure an elusive Group One success in today's Blue Square Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and John Oxx is expecting an improved display compared to her first start of the season.

The Aga Khan-owned filly could finish only fifth to Dar Re Mi in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in late June but that run appears to have sharpened up Katiyra who has twice been placed at Group One level in last year’s English Oaks and the Prix de l’Opera.

“She had a number of setbacks on the run up to that race and she wasn’t as fit as I thought she was. She simply blew up that day but I would expect her to run more prominently now,” Oxx said yesterday.

A total of 10 horses line up for the mile-and-a-quarter event, split equally between the classic generation and older fillies.

The ante-post favourite Midday has been placed in both the English and Irish Oaks but her connections are concerned about the possibility of soft ground conditions, a worry also for the Rainbow View camp.

However Oxx added: “Soft ground might be a little help to our filly because she is adaptable in terms of going. She won a Listed race at Gowran last year on bottomless ground and also won the Blandford on soft.”

The Nassau has been a Group One race since 1999 but Katiyra’s jockey Michael Kinane has yet to add it to his collection of top-flight prizes. Johnny Murtagh has won the last two renewals but is committed to riding in Galway today which means Frankie Dettori steps in for the ride on Spacious.

Murtagh will be at Ballybrit principally to team up with the Galileo newcomer Mikhail Glinka in the mile juvenile maiden.

Aidan O’Brien has used this race in the past to unveil some high-class talent including the 2002 winner The Great Gatsby, who finished runner-up in the following year’s Derby.

Waajida, third to Moran Gra at Leopardstown over six furlongs, may be a danger but soft ground could make this a tough task for a filly.

Weld should have better luck in the concluding bumper where the Moyglare Stud have a rare runner in this sphere with the well-bred Natural High while Monday night’s runner-up Gratified can also score for the “Ballybrit King” in the first.

My Valley found Almolahek too good for her on the flat here on Tuesday when attempting a hat-trick of wins in a two-mile handicap.

But she can go one better in today’s €50,000 Freshways Hurdle where Davy Russell takes the mount.