Found overcame a moderately troubled passage to return to winning ways in the Camelot European Breeders Fund Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly won the Breeders' Cup Turf at the end of last year but she was sent off only the 11-8 second-favourite for this event as she clashed again with Fascinating Rock, who had beaten her in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Ryan Moore was happy to take a pull through the early stages of this 10-furlong event as The Steward and Success Days set the early pace, with the latter still in the lead as the field turned into the straight.
Fascinating Rock then made his move with around two furlongs to run, but Moore had matters in hand, sitting in behind as Success Days really began to battle upfront.
Moore briefly looked in trouble with nowhere to go and only a furlong to run, but a split appeared between the front two and Found slipped through the gap, pulling clear with ease as she came forward markedly from her third in the Alleged Stakes on her seasonal reappearance.
She passed the post a length and a quarter in front of Success Days, with 11-10 favourite Fascinating Rock only third.
O'Brien admitted he was surprised by how much Found had improved for the run, although he believes there is even more to come.
"I didn't think she had come forward as much, but she obviously did," he said O'Brien.
"She's still not there and hopefully she's something to look forward to. The Tattersalls Gold Cup remains the plan.
"Ryan was going to relax her today as she was a little bit keen the last day. The plan was the last day, this race and then the Tattersalls. Then we might look at the Coronation [Cup], but that's not definite.
"She'd get a break and then have one or two runs before the Arc."
Awtaad confirmed himself a smart horse in the making as he got the better of Blue De Vega to run out a comfortable winner of the Power European Breeders Fund Tetrarch Stakes.
Blue De Vega was in contention for Saturday's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket until the 11th hour, so punters understandably sent him off a 6-4 favourite to make a winning return in this Listed event.
Colin Keane's mount travelled well enough but when Blue De Vega tried to mount a challenge, the well-regarded Awtaad had too much in reserve and surged forward again.
Chris Hayes just had to push out the Kevin Prendergast-trained winner to prevail by two lengths at odds of 13-8 as he followed up a taking handicap success, while maiden winner Embiran ran well enough before fading slightly in the finish.
Hayes said: "It was a great call by the boss to run him as we were going to work him after racing.
"That should take any silliness off him for the big day (Irish 2,000 Guineas) in three weeks and provided the ground dries up, he has a nice chance in my opinion."
Dolce Strega was delivered with a perfectly-timed challenge by Billy Lee to land the Group Three Canford Cliffs European Breeders Fund Athasi Stakes.
Willie McCreery's charge had won at Dundalk last month and followed up in fine style to deny Steip Amach and Ainippe.
Kevin Manning appeared to have made a decisive move aboard Steip Amach when she just edged in front of top-weight Ainippe, but Dolce Strega was just finding top gear down the middle of the track.
Dolce Strega kept finding for pressure and eventually came home a neck in front of Steip Amach at odds of 9-2.
McCreery said: "I'm a clever lad now! When I went up to Dundalk, I thought she was thrown in so if she had been beat I would have looked a right eejit. But she was able to come on here and it all worked out.
"She's tough and strengthened up a lot of the winter, although she hasn't grown. Billy gave her a brave ride. He got caught in a pocket and I wasn't sure he would get there.
"The owners bred her so I'm delighted for them. She got a mile last year when she was second in a Listed race here. Seven furlongs or a mile suits as she travels so well and is a very good moving filly."
King Electric ran out a surprise winner of the opening Ivawood European Breeders Fund Race at the Curragh, reversing recent form with hot favourite Peace Envoy.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Peace Envoy was sent off at 4-9 having readily beaten King Electric on his racecourse bow at Dundalk, but conceding 5lb this time, the market leader could not overhaul his old adversary.
When Ryan Moore gave Peace Envoy the signal to kick on, it briefly looked as though he may pick up the leader, but King Electric (100-30) kept finding more to win by half a length.
Grand Coalition was third with Sebestian Bach finishing last of the four runners after missing the break and failing to get anywhere near back on terms.
Winning trainer Ger Lyons said: "He's a good, honest horse and we said we'd sacrifice him early doors to see if what we were seeing was right with the others. If he ran well, we would know the ones that were beating him at home were OK and we had some smart sorts.
"It was a good pot and I thought it would take a stakes horse to beat him giving away weight - if he finished second it was no harm. We've been second to Aidan's horses plenty of times.
"Colin (Keane) said the ground was riding proper soft. I don't think he's a Marble Hill horse and the first thing Colin said to me is that six furlongs would suit. He's a good horse with a good temperament."
Sors stuck on gamely to claim the K Club Handicap for trainer Andrew Slattery and jockey Pat Smullen.
The 8-1 winner was in front with a furlong to run but Smullen was hard at work with a handful lining up in behind to challenge.
Anonymous Lady made significant strides down the nearside rail in the final half-furlong but she just could not reel in Sors, who recorded a half-length verdict.
Battleroftheboyne was a further head back in third with Slattery's other runner, A Few Dollars More, beaten a length and three-quarters in fourth.
"I had two in it and didn't know which to fancy," said Slattery. "He was very unlucky in Dundalk when he got stuck in the stalls. Chris Hayes said he would have been second.
"He was rated 93 as a two-year-old so he was entitled to do that. He's a good, genuine, honest horse and he stays six furlongs.
"He likes it when he's let roll and he goes on any ground. Hopefully we can get into a premier handicap with him. The Paddy Power over six and a half would suit, but he has a bit to go at the weights."
Slattery made it a double as Creggs Pipes (12-1) won the Cross' Supervalu Handicap in the hands of Declan McDonogh.
"She was entered at Chester on Friday in a seven-furlong race, but the vet said she might be in season by Friday so we came here" said Slattery.
"We didn't know if she would stay a mile as she's a free-running sort. We said we would run and she either stays or she doesn't - she obviously stays.
"She was very unlucky in a big handicap here on Champions Weekend when she got knocked down. She looked like she would be involved that day.
"We might look at the big handicap at Galway. The owner is looking to get black type, but she's only rated 75 so I'll try to hold him off and be realistic for a while.
"She won on good ground at Leopardstown but I think she does like a dig. We'll try to win again with her and then go for a nice handicap.
"If she could get third in a little Listed race on bottomless ground somewhere, it would be great."
Rose De Pierre (evens favourite) just got the better of 50-1 outsider Ottilie in a thrilling finish to the PG Duffy & Sons Citroen Maiden.
Representing Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen, Rose De Pierre was made to really battle right through the final furlong, eventually just edging out Ottilie by a nose with Atlas four and a half lengths back in third.
Rose De Pierre, who runs in the famous Moyglare Stud colours, is a daughter of classy stayer Profound Beauty and boasts entries in both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Oaks.
Weld said: "She's got a lot of talent and pace but we were worried about the ground. She just tired in the closing stages, it's as simple as that.
"She'll progress from the run and will learn an awful lot. Pat was trying to win as easily as he could and nurse her home. He was trying to educate her and win with her.
"He got there cantering and said just inside the final furlong, she got tired and tired quickly. There were four and a quarter lengths back to the third, and the second had a previous run, which is a big help.
"Obviously she's a well-bred filly by Dubawi out of Profound Beauty. She'll always appreciate an ease in the ground and we'll look at a stakes race now. That's her trip, she has a lot of pace.
"I wouldn't totally discount the possibility of running in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, it's a possibility, but she will make a lot of progress from today. We will be looking for some black type with her."
