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It is hard not to delve into the realm of superlatives when reflecting on the victory by Found, her sire Galileo and trainer Aidan O’Brien in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly.
Irish racing has been party to many never-to-be-forgotten moments and surely the Arc clean sweep by O’Brien trained runners sired by Galileo ranks with the best of them.
Found caned the best from Europe and Japan as she drew clear for a memorable victory over her stable companions Highland Reel and Order Of St George, a trifecta that gave O'Brien a mind-boggling 1-2-3 in Europe’s most important race to add to his victory with Dylan Thomas in 2007.For Galileo the achievement was no less striking.
To sire the first three past the post with Found his first Arc winner was a breeding achievement for Coolmore Stud of epic proportions although not unexpected considering the stamp his family have left on the race as his dam Urban Sea and half-brother Sea The Stars are both previous winners.Remarkably, it is the fifth time progeny by Galileo have swept the board in a G1 race.
Minding led home stablemates Ballydoyle and Alice Springs twice in the 1000 Guineas and the Moyglare Stud Stakes; Australia beating Kingfisher and Orchestra in the 2014 Irish Derby; and Sixties Icon beat The Last Drop and Red Rocks in the 2006 St Leger.
O'Brien summed up the result with trademark modesty."It's a privilege to be here and be part of it. I couldn't dream this would happen,” he said. "She's only run over a mile and a half four times before and we came here very hopeful after a good run last time.
“It's a great feeling to saddle the first three home in an Arc. What makes it amazing is that they are all by Galileo.”Found is the 11th G1 winner among 37 stakeswinners so far this year by Galileo.
The prize-money collected by the first three home in the Arc will swell Galileo's progeny earnings in Europe in 2015 to more than £13 million, assuring him of yet another champion sire title while Found has vaulted to the top of her sire's stakes earners ahead of Highland Reel with Frankel now in third place.One wonders how much more she could have earned had she enjoyed a little more luck on the nine occasions she has finished second at the highest level.
Nonetheless, the manner of her Arc victory means she will now be remembered as one of the true greats. She won last year's Breeders' Cup Turf and arrived in Paris having filled the runner-up spot in five consecutive G1 events, most recently chasing home Almanzor in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.Found was bred to be great being out of Intikhab’s daughter Red Evie, a Michael Bell-trained winner of the G1 Lockinge Stakes and the dam of Galileo’s G3 winners Magical Dream and Best In The World.
She has been sent by her owners, a syndicate of Coolmore associates, to Galileo every year since she went to stud except 2013 when she wasn’t served. She has since produced a yearling colt and filly foal by the champion sire.Red Evie was bought by for 58,000 guineas at Book 1 of the 2004 October Yearling Sale before winning nine of her 15 starts. She was then sold privately at the December Mare Sale after being initially bought back for 1 million guineas.
Red Evie was bred from an Italian Listed winner Malafemmena, a half-sister to G3 winner Export Price. Found’s third dam is the Irish 1000 Guineas third Martinova.None of Red Evie's offspring has been offered for sale as yearlings, but the Arc second and third provided timely updates for their siblings set to be offered at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale this week.
Highland Reel - a brother to Great Voltigeur Stakes winner Idaho - has a sister in the draft from Camas Park Stud and Order Of St George has a Declaration Of War half brother from Clare Castle Stud.• THERE was more success for Galileo and O’Brien when Alice Springs underlined the depth of talent and class among the Ballydoyle stable’s quality fillies when she won Saturday’s G1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket, adding to the exploits of stable companions Found, Minding and Seventh Heaven this season.
Alice Springs recorded her third G1 mile victory since July after wins in the Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes.Bred by Lynch Bages and Longfield Stud, she is the fourth foal out of the Danehill Dancer mare Aleagueoftheirown, all of whom have also been sired by Galileo and include multiple stakes placed Criteria, Kingston Jamaica and Crocodile Rock, unraced since breaking his maiden nearly a year ago.
A busy season for Alice Springs has also seen her finish third in the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes.Alice Springs holds an engagement in the QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday week with the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita also on the radar.