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Wondermares Found and Attraction both make their mark in Sussex

Battleground takes Vintage honours to follow Maydanny's impressive show

Silvestre de Sousa looks for dangers as Maydanny powers clear at Goodwood
Silvestre de Sousa looks for dangers as Maydanny powers clear at GoodwoodCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Neither Attraction nor Found need much of an introduction as racehorses, being two of the finest fillies in any era with eight Group 1 races between them.

Goodwood was one of the few major tracks that neither visited but the opening afternoon of the Glorious meeting provided an encouraging success for both as broodmares.

Attraction’s son Maydanny was first up, looking a Pattern horse in the making by spread-eagling his rivals in the Unibet You're On Handicap just half an hour before Found’s first foal Battleground confirmed his abundant juvenile promise in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes.

Attraction, the elder by 12 years and remembered by her unusual racing action as much as her rampant march through two Guineas and a Coronation Stakes, has already done her late breeder the Duke of Roxburghe proud from Floors Castle.

Maydanny is Attraction’s ninth foal and sibling of an amazing seven other winners headed by York Stakes scorer Elarqam and useful sprinter-turned stallion Fountain Of Youth.

Like Elarqam, the Dubawi-sired Maydanny was sold for seven figures at Tattersalls to Shadwell and sent to Mark Johnston. Although a gelding operation indicates that all has not progressed as hoped, he bolted up on his four-year-old reappearance at Yarmouth and took this 10-furlong event with plenty in hand off a mark of 90. Johnston said afterwards that it would be "one step at a time".

The Scot is also in charge of Elarqam’s three-year-old Invincible Spirit daughter, Motion, who looked inexperienced on her recent racecourse bow.

Phoenix Thoroughbreds secured a Frankel yearling brother to Elarqam for 525,000gns last year while Attraction was due to visit Kingman in 2020.
Battleground beats Devious Company in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes
Battleground beats Devious Company in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Battleground, meanwhile, is now around 8-1 for next year’s 2,000 Guineas after landing a race won by the likes of Galileo Gold and Pinatubo with real authority.

The result of Found’s cover by War Front had already struck at stakes level when landing the Chesham at Royal Ascot as a maiden.

Although the daughter of Galileo and the brilliant Red Evie did not win a Classic herself - she was touched off in the Irish Guineas - she had a Breeders' Cup Turf and an Arc de Triomphe to show from a glittering career.

Battleground was bred by the Coolmore-affiliated Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt while his dam is thought to have visited Triple Crown hero Justify last year.


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Tom PeacockBloodstock features writer

Published on 28 July 2020inNews

Last updated 17:56, 28 July 2020

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