THE Breeders’ Cup Turf heroine Found banished the form of her comeback to the distant past with a smooth win in the Camelot EBF Mooresbridge Stakes.

Third in the Alleged Stakes, Found faced a stiff examination in this 10-furlong Group 3 as the English Champion Stakes winner Fascinating Rock was lying in wait. However, she came through this test and it won’t be too much longer before she is adding to her big race haul.

Ryan Moore initially settled the Galileo filly at the rear of the field before then looking to come between Success Days and the returning Fascinating Rock inside the last couple of furlongs.

That gap closed on her but she gathered herself for another effort and she challenged between horses 150 yards from home. It didn’t take her long to get on top and she was a comfortable length and a quarter winner over the honourable front-runner Success Days. Fascinating Rock was a further two and a half lengths back in third.

Aidan O’Brien commented: “She’s still to come in her coat but is coming along lovely and the plan is the Tattersalls Gold Cup and then maybe the Coronation Cup at Epsom. Then maybe a run or two before the Arc.”

Dolce Strega (9/2) further underlined the well being of Willie McCreery’s team as she pounced late to secure a precious Group 3 triumph in the Canford Cliffs EBF Athasi Stakes. The daughter of Zoffany, who is owned by her Italian-based breeder Renzo Forni, was taking a marked step up class from the Dundalk conditions race which she won last month.

Dolce Strega was going conspicuously well in behind Ainippe and Steip Amach a quarter of a mile out and she picked up well when getting into the clear nearing the last furlong. She cut down Steip Amach nearing the line while the odds-on Ainippe was a length and a quarter back in third.

“She’s tough and she’s really strengthened up over the winter,” commented McCreery. “She was caught in a pocket for a long time there but Billy was cool on her. Seven furlongs and a bit of juice in the ground suits her well.”

GUINEAS

Awtaad (13/8) completed his Irish 2000 Guineas preparations in fine style in the Power EBF Tetrarch Stakes. The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt looked every inch a stakes horse when shouldering top weight to victory in the Madrid Handicap.

Here in a race that contained a couple of very smart sorts from last year in Blue De Vega and Round Two, the Cape Cross colt travelled nicely for Chris Hayes before making his way to the front with over a furlong to run. When he was asked to assert inside the distance he responded well to pull away, hitting the line two lengths ahead of Blue De Vega.

“He’s a smart horse who came on nicely from the Madrid and that should leave him spot on for the Guineas,” declared Kevin Prendergast who was winning this race for the first time since 2006. “He’d like good ground, he just may not want it brick hard.”

Prendergast, Hayes and Hamdan Al Maktoum were also on the mark in the six-furlong maiden as Mizaah (7/2) bounced back from fracturing his pelvis on his final start as a juvenile. The Invincible Spirit colt stamped his authority on this race over the last furlong, finishing almost four lengths clear of the 66/1 shot and 55-rated Fainleog.

“He’s a nice a horse who had been working well and he’s come back well from the problem he had last year. He’d a very good run (third to Blue De Vega) on his second run last season,” declared the winning trainer.

DUNDALK FORM

Earlier, the Ger Lyons-trained King Electric reversed last month’s Dundalk form to upstage the odds-on Peace Envoy in the five-furlong Ivawood EBF Race. Peace Envoy beat the Sean Jones-owned colt by just over a length when they last met but on this occasion the Ballydoyle colt had to shoulder a 5lb winners’ penalty. King Electric (100/30) made the running and from two furlongs out it was clear that Peace Envoy was going to have to work hard. The 4/9 shot did close up but couldn’t quite get upsides and a willing King Electric carried the day by half a length.

“I thought that it would take a stakes horse to give him weight and beat him,” declared Lyons. “I don’t think he’s a horse for the Marble Hill and the first thing Colin said to me was that six furlongs would suit him well.”

SLATTERY DOUBLE

It was a day to remember for Andy Slattery as he reeled off a double which was completed by Creggs Pipes (12/1) in the mile handicap. The trip was something of an unknown for the four-year-old but the free going filly made all under Declan McDonogh and finished with two lengths to spare.

“We had her in at Chester during the week but the vet said she might be in season for that so we came here,” commented Slattery of the Delphi Six Syndicate-owned winner. “Maybe we’ll look at something like one of those good handicaps at Galway now. She likes a little ease.”

Earlier the Slattery-trained Sors (8/1) took advantage of a career low rating of 69 in the five-furlong handicap. The Men Of Forty Eight Syndicate-owned gelding was always on the pace for Pat Smullen and he first shook off the efforts of Coto and Battleroftheboyne before crossing the line half a length ahead of the staying on Anonymous Lady.

“He likes it when he’s let roll and he goes on any ground. Hopefully he’ll be able to get into some of those premier handicaps later in the season but he’s a bit to go in the weights,” reported Slattery who also saddled the fourth-placed A Few Dollars More.

Smullen then added to his tally as he teamed up with the Dermot Weld-trained newcomer Rose De Pierre in the mile maiden. The first foal out of the high-class Profound Beauty was returned the evens favourite and travelled like a smart filly for most of the journey.

However she did need the line badly late on as the 50/1 chance Ottile came home well to force a bobbing finish. A desperately tight outcome went the way of the Moyglare Stud-owned Irish 1000 Guineas entrant by a nose.

“She just tired quickly in the last furlong and Pat was trying to nurse her home,” reflected Dermot Weld. “She’s a nicely bred filly who will always appreciate an ease in the ground and we’ll look for a stakes race next. That’s her trip.”

Weld pleased

DERMOT Weld expressed himself pleased with Fascinating Rock’s comeback third in the Mooresbridge Stakes and he confirmed that his five-year-old was on course for the Tattersalls Gold Cup back here later in the month.

Acting Stewards

Mrs J.O. Onions, P.Caffrey, P. McLernon, S. Barry, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

WINDSOR BEACH (J.P. Murtagh): This gelding was having his first run for almost two years when finishing fourth behind Mizaah. He should improve appreciably from this.