OH YES!
Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was fresh off an impressive score in last month's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh, continued a dream run for his sire and connections, leading home yet another Ballydoyle exacta in Saturday's G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket. The bay found a smooth rhythm and tracked a steady pace in fourth. Nudged along passing the two pole, the 8-11 chalk was angled into clear runway approaching the final eighth and driven out up the hill to assert by 1 1/4 lengths from his rallying 66-1 stablemate Lancaster Bomber (War Front), with Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal a half length back in third. “The race wasn't as evenly run as it could have been, but he was always going to win,” insisted Ryan Moore. “He's strong and powerful, and I felt he was always going easy through the race. He relaxes well and travels, and, when I ask him, he always finds. He'll definitely be a Guineas horse and I think he'll get better.”
Churchill has made a rapid ascent since running third in his May 22 Curragh debut, collecting wins in Royal Ascot's June 18 Listed Chesham S., Leopardstown's July 21 G3 Tyros S. and the Aug. 21 G2 Futurity S. back at The Curragh before adding a daylight score in the Sept. 11 G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. there once more last time. “It got a little bit messy inside the two [-furlong marker], but Ryan guided him through and I'm over the moon,” said winning trainer Aidan O'Brien after claiming a fifth edition. “It was a sensible pace, he quickened well into the dip and will have learnt a lot from today. He's as imposing a 2-year-old as we've ever trained. He's big and powerful, he's a great traveller and has quality in abundance. He has done everything we've asked from day one and is very special.”
Charlie Appleby was not downcast with the outcome and said, “I'm delighted with the run and Blue Point lost nothing in defeat. He's answered the question [about optimum trip] now and it will be the [G1] Commonwealth Cup next year. That's what we'll do and he'll probably have one or two outings beforehand, the [G2] Sandy Lane and then the Commonwealth Cup. He picked up nicely before the last 100 yards when the petrol ran out, it was a good performance and he'll be a nice horse for next year.” Saeed bin Suroor was pleased with the fourth-place finish for Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), adding, “Thunder Snow ran well, is in good form and I'm happy with him. He's been second in two Group 2 races and has now run well in a Group 1. There is no plan and we'll see what the options are. I don't know if he'll run again this year and we'll see in a few days.”
Churchill, full-brother to a yearling filly and a colt foal, is out of G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Meow (Ire) (Storm Cat), herself a daughter of G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning dual highweight Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}). Airwave, who is a half-sister to G1 Nunthorpe S.-winning highweight Jwala (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), also produced G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies' S. victress Aloof (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Listed Grand Prix Anjou Bretagne winner Orator (Ire) Galileo {Ire}).
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
DUBAI DEWHURST S.-G1, £500,000, NEW, 10-8, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.80, gd.
1–CHURCHILL (IRE), 127, 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. £283,550. Lifetime Record: G1W-Ire, 6-5-0-1, $769,491. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lancaster Bomber, 127, c, 2, War Front">War Front–Sun Shower (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Sun Shower Syndicate (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £107,500.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”][bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Blue Point (Ire), 127, c, 2, Shamardal–Scarlett Rose (GB), by Royal Applause (GB). (110,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; 200,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Oak Lodge Bloodstock (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £53,800.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, NK. Odds: 0.70, 66.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Thunder Snow (Ire), Rivet (Ire), South Seas (Ire), Seven Heavens (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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