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Caught U looking 'bouncing' after Oaks fifth

Caught You Looking and Colin Keane at Epsom. Caught You Looking and Colin Keane at Epsom.
© Photo Healy Racing

Trainer Noel Meade reports Epsom Oaks fifth Caught U Looking to have come out of the Classic in exceptional form.

Speaking to Racing TV, the Meath man said that both the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Irish Oaks are under consideration for the daughter of Harzaand.

"She ran a blinder, I suppose. Everybody keeps telling me she ran a blinder. I was slightly disappointed because I thought going, we'd be in the first four to be honest", Meade said.

"We were fifth, so I wasn't too far wrong. Look when you run, there are no prizes, no medals for finishing fifth. Listen, she ran a very genuine, true race. Got a brilliant ride round the inner and everything went right.

"She has come home out of the race absolutely bouncing. I struggled with her all spring, I couldn't get her to thrive and I couldn't get her to keep her weight on her but she is after turning a corner in the last month or three weeks.

"About 10 or 12 days before the Oaks, she started to come right and since she came home, she actually came home and she had lost I think about 10 or 12 kilos in the trip, from the time she left to when she came back. Not only did she put it back on in a week, she put on five kilos along with it.

"So that's an incredible performance to see that coming back up so quick. She is bouncing. Neil Ryan rides her every day and he says she is a totally different filly so hopefully, I don't know. She is in the Ribblesdale, it's probably a short call to go there that quick but you wouldn't know, maybe. We'll see how we are. We still think we have something.

On the Irish Oaks; Meade added: "Absolutely(on prospect of running) but sure I suppose Dermot(Weld) will be there and his filly was exceptional(at Epsom) I thought. She was very very good and is a beautiful filly the way she quickened up so I presume he will be thinking there as well. Look, certainly she's in it and you can't win if you are not in."

About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.