By Tom Frary
THE PILE DRIVER
The iconic figurehead after who Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is titled once spoke of making a point using a pile driver again and again and the Ballydoyle namesake delivered his own “tremendous whack” in Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. With The Curragh hit by a deluge of rain, there was reason to doubt whether Michael Tabor's powerhouse would go through the ground with his usual zest and although it made his task more laboured there was still a degree of comfort in his completion of the Guineas double. Held up in fourth initially, Ryan Moore had to stir the 4-9 favourite a long way from home but he was able to subdue Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) from 1 1/2 out and assert for a 2 1/2-length verdict over the Godolphin raider. “He relaxed so well I had to pick him up, but within two to three strides he was there and in front a lot sooner than I expected,” his rider said. “He's such a good mover, so he wasn't really enjoying that ground, but he never misses a beat–he's so strong underneath you. He does everything you want as a jockey and he ticks all the boxes. I think he's a very special horse.”
Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
TATTERSALLS IRISH 2000 GUINEAS-G1, €300,000, CUR, 5-27, 3yo, 8fT, 1:40.46, yl.
1–CHURCHILL (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Meow (Ire) (SW-Ire & GSP-Eng), by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Airwave (GB), by Air Express (Ire)
3rd Dam: Kangra Valley (GB), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Liberty Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €171,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eur & G1SW-Eng, 8-7-0-1, $1,328,779. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thunder Snow (Ire), 126, c, 3, Helmet (Aus)–Eastern Joy (GB), by Dubai Destination. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor. €60,000.
3–Irishcorrespondent (Ire), 126, c, 3, Teofilo (Ire)–Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O/B-Ballygallon Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Michael Halford. €30,000.
Margins: 2HF, 4HF, 4. Odds: 0.40, 5.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Glastonbury Song (Ire), Lancaster Bomber, Spirit of Valor. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
It is 20 years since Aidan O'Brien celebrated the first of his 70 European Classics in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas here and it could be that Churchill sits near the top of those who have delivered that impressive tally including Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). One of three from the stable to bring up the same Newmarket-Curragh Guineas double, he was similarly imperturbable in his pursuit of superiority among his division and all the while was able to keep something back. That has also been the case with the latest Ballydoyle miler supreme, whose only defeat came on his debut in the six-furlong maiden on this weekend and whose undemonstrative way of racing means that he is always open to challenge. As the undisputed champion of his age group after ticking off the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown in July, G2 Futurity S. and G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. here in August and September and G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket in October, he had to prove that he was still top dog against some stern opposition when he returned to the latter venue on the first Saturday in May.
Unlike some former juvenile leaders, the one thing Churchill has is substantial scope and his advanced physique will always put his rivals on the back foot. Especially when the ground is on the quick side, as it was when he disposed of the best opposition he has faced so far in the Guineas, that muscle power is decisive but there was a chance that he would lose his advantage when the driving rain came on the morning of this contest. By the time Lancaster Bomber (War Front) took them to halfway, Ryan Moore was giving out minor signals to disturb the odds-on backers and when his stablemate Spirit of Valor (War Front) started to come back on to him there was a concern that Churchill was in trouble. Instead, he arrived wide with a flourish to overhaul the smooth-travelling Thunder Snow and Christophe Soumillon approaching the final furlong and was sent clear in the run to the line for group 1 number four and an 11th renewal for his trainer.
Aidan O'Brien is under no illusion as to the merit of the winner, who will eventually move up in trip after avoiding the rapid jump to a mile and a half that tackling the Derby would have represented. “He's a great horse. Obviously, we're delighted with him as the ground was a concern. Donnacha [O'Brien] rides him in all his work and he said it'd be no problem, so that gave us the confidence to keep going. He also said he had come on a good bit from Newmarket, so Ryan was confident before the race. He says he's asleep in his races and the next thing he's there and ground and trip all come alike to him. Coming here, we were thinking we'd go from here to [Royal] Ascot for the [June 20] G1 St James's Palace S. He'll probably stay a mile and a quarter later in the year and you'd love to think of the [G1] Irish Champion [S. at Leopardstown Sept. 9].”
Thunder Snow was putting his inexplicable antics at Churchill Downs firmly behind him with this thoroughly genuine running and trainer Saeed bin Suroor was thinking about a rematch with the winner again. “Thunder Snow ran very well. He did everything right during the race and was beaten by a better horse on the day,” he said. “We will keep the options open for him, including the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.”
On the same card, Churchill's full-sister Clemmie (Ire) put up a highly encouraging performance when third in the opening maiden while Airwave's Auckland (Ire) also by Galileo won a day earlier at Leopardstown. There is still no proof that this is a pedigree for a mile and a half, but given that Airwave eventually won the G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. over a mile at this meeting there is a strong chance that Churchill will prove equally as effective at that trip. The debut of Meow's yearling colt also by Galileo will be keenly anticipated and it could come at the 2018 Irish Guineas fixture if this pattern is anything to go by.
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