Diamond Rio takes the spoils in the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
Diamond Rio showed improvement to land the mile and a quarter fillies' maiden in the Curragh for handler Tony Mullins.
The 12/1 shot made progress into third with a quarter of a mile left. She then came through to challenge inside the final furlong before keeping on best to lead in the closing stages under Daniel Redmond. Catalyst the 9/4 favourite, attempted to make all but was passed by the winner in the last 50 yards. She had to settle for second. She was two and three quarter lengths in front of Chinese Light (6/1).
Tony Mullins said: "She's improved nicely for the extra bit of distance. I knew she had ability and it's nice to see her improving.
"I think, in fact I'm quite sure she'll be better again over a mile-and-a-half. I don't know where we'll go next, I didn't think we'd be here so soon.
"I'm delighted and I'll see what mark she gets before deciding if we go for a winners of one or a handicap. We're planning to step up in trip anyway."
Diamond Rio had been third in her two previous races. This was a slight step up in trip the furthest she had raced over was an extended mile and one in Gowran Park.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
