Churchillian too quick for flying filly in Arawa Park’s Group 3 highlight

Churchillian made the most of her tactical speed to win the Group 3 highlight at Rotorua. Photo / Kenton Wright

Cambridge mare Churchillian left her rivals in her wake when claiming her second victory at stakes level in the Group 3 Rotorua ITM Stakes on Saturday.

The Tony Pike-prepared 6-year-old looked to be one of many pace influences in the contest, but once rider Joe Doyle took her to the lead and held out race favourite Kitty Flash in the early skirmishes for control of the speed, it looked like the rest of the quality line-up of fillies and mares would have their hands full trying to catch her.

That’s how it panned out as Doyle allowed the daughter of Coolmore Stud’s four-time Group 1 winner Churchill to dictate terms and after turning for home it was going to take a herculean effort to run her down.

That task fell to Awapuni visitor Platinum Diamond, who charged home from last to snatch second from Churchillian’s stablemate Honey Badger, albeit two lengths adrift of the winner.

Pike stable representative Chris McNab was quick to point out what a quality galloper the mare is with 10 wins from 25 starts and prize money of more than $358,000.

“She is a marvellous horse and to see what she did today, she just put them away,” McNab said.

“Tony [Pike] said we are probably best sticking to the fence and it has worked out as she would have got attacked on either side if she hadn’t.

“Kitty Flash had to do a lot of work to get outside her, which we had banked on, and everything went picture-perfect the whole way.

“She is a good, tough mare and that is her 10th win today. Not many horses do that and she has been a great servant to the stable.”

Doyle recalled circumstances a year ago when he won the race aboard the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Tomodachi before rushing to the airport to fly to Sweden to be with his partner Ulrika Holmquist, who had been badly injured in a raceday fall.

“She [Churchillian] is as tough as anything as she is now two from two on heavy tracks,” he said.

“She has a lovely pedigree and is going to make a fantastic broodmare.

“I’m really grateful to Tony for giving me the call-up and it is nice to ride a good winner for him.

“I was delighted to see Kitty Flash had to work so hard and she [Churchillian] managed to get a lungful of air around the 600m, which all helped.

“It was a year and a day ago since Ulrika had her bad fall and I won this race then hightailed it to the airport.

“It has been a tough year, but we are all doing well now.”

Bred by Sir Peter Vela under his Pencarrow Thoroughbreds banner, Churchillian is the first foal of Fastnet Rock mare Fond du Coeur and is closely related to a number of international stakes performers including 2006 Champion older mare of Europe, Pride, who won three times at Group 1 level, including the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m).

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk