Found

It might be wise to retain faith in Found, despite her defeat in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes at The Curragh on Monday. It is never ideal when a short-priced favourite gets beaten, but there was a lot to like about Found’s performance, and she could improve significantly for the run.

One of last season’s leading juvenile fillies, the daughter of Galileo was favourite for the 1000 Guineas from a fair way out, but a setback in the 10 days leading up to the first fillies’ Classic put her participation in doubt. Trainer Aidan O’Brien left a decision until final declaration stage on Friday, but the fact that he took her out of the Guineas told you that he didn’t think she was quite ready. And the fact that he allowed her take her chance in a Group 3 race a day after the Guineas told you that he thought she wasn’t far off.

That is exactly how she raced on Monday, like a high-class filly who was just short of concert pitch. She travelled well through the race for Ryan Moore, and she picked up impressively out in the centre when her rider asked her to. She looked home at that point, she went two lengths clear of her rivals and she traded at 1.02 in-running on Betfair. She tired, however, which was understandable for a filly making her seasonal debut after a setback on heavy ground. Also, Iveagh Gardens is a talented filly when she has soft ground who had race-fitness on her side, and she finished off her race really well, getting up to catch Found inside the final 100 yards before going away to win by two lengths.

Found should come on for this run. She could come on appreciably, and she still could be a top class three-year-old. Her form as a juvenile is top class. She surprised a few people when winning on her racecourse debut as a 14/1 shot, beating her better-fancied stable companion Together Forever – who won her last three races last season, including the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile – into second place, with this year’s Salsabil Stakes winner Bocca Baciata back in fourth. Found was pitched into Group 1 company on just her second run last term, when she displayed signs of inexperience but still put up a big performance to finish third behind Cursory Glance and Lucida in the Moyglare Stud Stakes. Then, on her final run last term, she ran out an impressive winner of the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day at Longchamp.

By Galileo and a full-sister to Magical Dream, who was only beaten a head in the Group 3 Noblesse Stakes over a mile and a half, Found could be an Oaks filly now. But she is not devoid of pace – her dam is Red Evie, who won the Lockinge Stakes – and she will also be of big interest if she lines up in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

4th May 2015