It might have been an early-winter meeting, but imperially bred filly I Found You was giving co-trainer Peter Snowden Yuletide vibes with her dominant debut win on Randwick’s Kensington track.
A $1.3 million yearling, I Found You is a daughter of super sire I Am Invincible out of Listen Here, making her a half-sister to stallions Shooting To Win and Deep Field.
She showed she had inherited her share of the family’s ability with an emphatic 3-3/4 length win in the James Squire Handicap (1150m) on Wednesday, backing up a recent barrier trial performance in which she claimed the scalp of Group 1 winner Broadsiding.
Snowden admitted it had felt like a long wait to finally get her to the races, almost a month after that trial win.
“She has been like a Christmas present under the tree, I’ve been waiting for three weeks to open her,” Snowden said.
“She has got talent and she’s from a great family. She is a half to Deep Field and Shooting To Win by I Am Invincible.
“She has always shown us a bit, she has been a bit small and light and she is just starting to furnish and get a bit of hindquarter and shoulder on her.”
I found a winner!
I Found You takes Race 1 at Randwick Kensington with ease!@aus_turf_club @mcacajamez @SnowdenRacing1 pic.twitter.com/fCilHtFnwC
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 12, 2024
Snowden is unlikely to target the spring with I Found You, instead believing the filly will benefit from more racing now to lay some solid career foundations.
Given she is only just beginning to mature, he expects her to take another 12 months to hit her straps.
“She is still a bit immature….and I’m sure the autumn is when you’ll see the best of her,” he said.
“We will probably give her another run or two now and give her a good education and grounding.”
I Found You ($1.80 fav) gave the stable the first leg of a race-to-race double with another well-related youngster in Braveheart ($18) breaking his maiden in the TAB Handicap (1150m).
Also by I Am Invincible, Braveheart is a full brother to the Snowdens’ classy sprinter King Of Sparta and connections believe he has a bright future.
“We really liked him as a yearling, but he went through a spurt there where he lost it a little bit. He is on his way again now,” Snowden said.
“I think he can go on with it.
“I’m sure he will be better on top of the ground, the family is much better on top of the ground, but it’s good to see him win like that. It’s a nice result.”
Braveheart was also a $1.3 million purchase from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is raced by the Newgate Bloodstock Syndicate.
A double to @SnowdenRacing1 as Braveheart wins the TAB Maiden!@aus_turf_club @TommyBerry21 pic.twitter.com/zgqeKw5e2y
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 12, 2024