BC Internationals: Turf contender Found

Photo courtesy of Frank Sorge/Horsephotos.com.

Found aims to become the first sophomore filly, and just third female overall, to defeat males in the Turf (G1).

The Aidan O'Brien trainee ranked as the highweight juvenile filly in both France and Ireland last year, on the strength of her terrific victory over Ervedya in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1). Found promised to achieve more at three, but so far, a major prize has been just out of her grasp.

Runner-up on heavy ground in her tightener in the May 4 Athasi (G3) at the Curragh, Found was beaten all of a half-length by Pleascach next time in the Irish 1000 Guineas (G1):

 

In her rematch with old rival Ervedya in the Coronation (G1) at Royal Ascot, Found couldn't match her electric turn of foot but came awfully close (click link for replay). A step up in trip was warranted, and she thrived over 1 1/4 miles in the Royal Whip (G3), albeit against one real opponent in Answered and another overmatched older male:

 

That virtually effortless display served as a warm-up for a busy fall campaign, beginning with her honorable second to Turf favorite Golden Horn in the Irish Champion (G1):

 

On that formline, you'd have expected her to finish closer than ninth behind Golden Horn in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). But note the traffic trouble she found trying to weave through from far back:

 

Found wheeled back 13 days later in the October 17 Champion (G1) at Ascot, where she again had to maneuver her way and reported home a fine second, edging hot favorite Jack Hobbs (Golden Horn's stablemate) back in third.

For insight into Found's form and an appraisal of her chances, check out the detailed international analysis at brisnet.com/cgi-bin/special_reps.cgi.

Brisnet.com has the Breeders' Cup PPs files available for all 13 races -- 4 on Breeders' Cup Friday and 9 on Breeders' Cup Saturday.