Churchill is a formidable colt physically and he seems to have the reputation to match, so it was no surprise that he built on an encouraging debut third to the useful Van Der Decken (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) over six furlongs at The Curragh May 22 when winning Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S. over this trip June 18. Held up in third early against the rail by Ryan Moore, the bay was caught behind the front-running Eagle Spirit (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) for a few strides at the top of the straight. Seizing a gap on that rival's inner to gain a rail run approaching the furlong pole, he had a narrow lead soon after as Alexios Komnenos swooped wide and after a couple of reminders stayed on to secure a cosy verdict.
“When he gets there he's very babyish and green. We saw that at Ascot,” trainer Aidan O'Brien said. “He's a little immature still. He got there very easily, but the other horse challenged wide and Ryan said he didn't see him until late. I was delighted with the way he travelled through the race. We always thought he was very good. He had a nice run when third at the Curragh and we obviously saw what he did in Ascot. We were a little worried in Ascot, as they went slow and he got there early and was green. He got to the front today and waited again. I think the [G2] Futurity [S. at The Curragh Aug. 21] is where we will go now.”
Pedigree notes:
Churchill is a son of the G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Meow, whose dam is Coolmore's high-class sprinting 550,000gns horses-in-training acquisition Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}). She was a multiple highweight for Henry Candy and after showing the precocity to land the G1 Cheveley Park S. at two was also able to collect the five-furlong G2 Temple S. before joining Ballydoyle and adding the G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. to her tally over a mile. She was also second and third in strong renewals of the G1 Golden Jubilee S. and G1 July Cup respectively and has to be considered one of the best of her sex in that category in Europe in recent times. Along with Meow, she has also produced the G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies' S. winner Aloof (Ire) from a mating with Galileo. Her own half-sister Jwala (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) sprang a surprise when winning the G1 Nunthorpe S. before her untimely demise, so the quality runs deep in the immediate family. Meow has another Galileo to follow, an as-yet unnamed yearling filly.
Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TYROS S.-G3, €60,000, LEO, 7-21, 2yo, 7fT, 1:28.37, g/f.
1–@CHURCHILL (IRE), 129, c, 2, 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. €35,400. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 3-2-0-1, $105,909. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Alexios Komnenos (Ire), 129, c, 2, Choisir (Aus)–Alexiade (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). (16,000gns RNA Wlg '14 TATFOA; €28,000 Ylg '15 GOFORB). O-Werrett Bloodstock PTY Limited & Ms Genevieve Britton & David S McGuinness; B-P. Motherway (IRE); T-Tommy Stack. €11,400.
3–Currency Converter, 129, c, 2, Exchange Rate–Ruby's Realm, by Empire Maker. ($95,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Samuel M Mencoff & Dr Michael Smurfit & Anthony Paul Smurfit; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Dermot Weld. €5,400.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred-keen-grad”]Margins: NK, 2, NK. Odds: 0.40, 8.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: King Electric (Ire), Ready To Roc (Ire), Eagle Spirit (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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