Kataniya displayed both class and determination on the Prix du Jockey Club undercard on Sunday in a pillar to post victory in the Gr 3 Prix de Royaumont.

Sent out in front and in the centre of the track by jockey Christophe Soumillon, Kataniya was joined by the rest of the field mid-way through the mile and a half contest. In the final straight, the filly responded well to her rider’s urgings, quickening a furlong from home to repel the attack of second-finisher Sea Calisi.

Trainer Alain de Royer Dupré was pleased with the performance, “She was the first to accelerate and kept up her effort right to the line. She’s a filly who will be able to step up again in class, but we won’t rush her. She is a wonderful looking filly.”

The improving Kataniya is now the winner of three of her four outings. After a second place on her debut on the Chantilly polytrack, she won her maiden and then the Listed Prix de la Seine at Longchamp. Her next race is likely to be the Gr 2 Prix de Malleret at Saint-Cloud on 28th June.

By Raven’s Pass, Kataniya is out of Katiykha (Darshaan), a dual Listed victrix over a mile and a half and a mile and three-quarters. Katiykha is the dam of seven winners to date, notably Gr 2 Blandford Stakes scorer and Oaks third Katiyra.

H.H. the Aga Khan’s colours have been carried to success in the past in the Prix de Royaumont by future Irish Oaks and Prix Vermeille heroine Shawanda (Sinndar), dam of Classic winner Encke and Genius Beast, and by Minatlya (Linamix), dam of black-type pair Mandistana and Mila.