3 minute read

Son of Found follows up Chesham victory at Goodwood

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Battleground (2 c War Front - Found by Galileo) produced an impressive display to win the Vintage Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at Glorious Goodwood on Tuesday and could now be aimed at the National Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at the Curragh.

The son of War Front (Danzig) glided past his rivals to post a two length victory over Devious Company (Fast Company), while Youth Spirit (Camelot) another length and a quarter away in third and has now won two of his three career starts having taken out last month's Chesham Stakes (Listed, 7f) at Royal Ascot. 

“We were very happy with him at home and we just thought it was a lovely race for experience for him,” said O’Brien. “The ground was lovely and safe and I think Ryan was very happy with him.

“We would be thinking his next run would be the National Stakes if everything was well, but he’s a horse we’ve always loved.

“He’s very genuine and a big, powerful horse and that’s the way she (Found) was as well.”

O’Brien said he expects the colt to thrive over a mile: “We thought he would be a miler probably – he’s got speed, he’s a strong traveller and he is by War Front and out of Found, so we thought he’d get a mile.

“Obviously all our two-year-olds got a little bit messed up at the start of the season, then we had to rush some of them to get to Ascot, so that wasn’t ideal.

“It’s very early for horses yet and an awful lot of horses will come out – some will improve, some will stand still and some will go back.”

The colt is the first foal out of multiple Group 1 winner Found (Galileo) who was one of the very best mares in the past few years whose three Group 1 wins included the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) and the Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr 1, 12f) in which she dealt Golden Horn (Cape Cross) one of his only two career defeats. 

Found is from an impeccably well-bred family, being out of dual Group 1 winner Red Evie (Intikhab) - who like her daughter improved with age and over extended distances. Found herself is a sister to Group 3 winners Best In The World and Magical Dream. 

War Front has also proved a good match for Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) mares and is one of nine stakes winners bred on the cross, which is headed by elite-level-winning trio Roly Poly, US Navy Flag and Fog Of War.

Battleground cut for the 2000 Guineas after his Vintage Stakes win. Aidan O'Brien reveals future plans >>> https://t.co/8tb6MGxB4r https://t.co/tPYXXc7kqI

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 28, 2020