Churchill | |
---|---|
Sire | Galileo |
Grandsire | Sadler's Wells |
Dam | Meow |
Damsire | Storm Cat |
Sex | Colt |
Foaled | 31 January 2014 [1] |
Country | Ireland |
Colour | Bay |
Breeder | Liberty Bloodstock |
Owner | Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier |
Trainer | Aidan O'Brien |
Record | 13: 7-1-2 |
Earnings | $1,847,877 |
Major wins | |
Chesham Stakes (2016) Tyros Stakes (2016) Futurity Stakes (2016) National Stakes (2016) Dewhurst Stakes (2016) 2000 Guineas (2017) Irish 2,000 Guineas (2017) | |
Awards | |
Cartier Champion Two-year-old Colt (2016) Top-rated European two-year-old (2016) |
Churchill (foaled 31 January 2014) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He was rated the best two-year-old colt in Europe in 2016, winning five of his six races including the Chesham Stakes, Tyros Stakes, Futurity Stakes, National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. On his three-year-old debut he won the 2000 Guineas and followed up with a second Classic victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
Churchill is a bay colt with a white star and three white socks bred in Ireland by Liberty Bloodstock, a breeding company associated with the Coolmore Stud organisation.
He was sired by Galileo, who won the Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001. Galileo is now one of the world's leading stallions and has been champion sire of Great Britain and Ireland eight times so far. His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle, Found, Minding and Ruler of the World. [2] Churchill's dam Meow showed good form as a juvenile in 2010, finishing second in the Queen Mary Stakes and winning the Listed Grangecon Stud Stakes. [3] Meow was a daughter of the outstanding filly Airwave and closely related to the leading sprinter Jwala. [4]
The colt was sent into training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. Like many Coolmore horses, the official details of his ownership have changed from race to race: he has sometimes been listed as being the property of Susan Magnier, while on other occasions he has been described as being owned by a partnership of Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier.
Churchill made his racecourse debut in a six-furlong maiden race at the Curragh on 22 May in which he was ridden by Ryan Moore and started the 2/1 favourite in an eleven-runner field. After racing in mid-division he stayed on in the closing stages to finish third behind Van Der Decken and Magnification.
In June he was moved up in class and distance when he was sent to England to contest the Listed Chesham Stakes over seven furlongs at Royal Ascot. Starting the 8/11 favourite against twelve opponents he took the lead two furlongs out and won by half a length from Isomer despite drifting to the left in the closing stages. [5] In July Churchill was moved up to Group Three class for the Tyros Stakes over seven furlongs at Leopardstown Racecourse. He was sent off the 2/5 favourite, but after taking the lead a furlong out he was "strongly pressed" before prevailing by a neck from Alexios Komnenos. [6]
Only three horses appeared to oppose Churchill when the colt started at odds of 1/4 for the Group Two Futurity Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh on 21 August. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan he took the lead inside the final furlong and drew away in the closing stages to win by two lengths from the Jim Bolger-trained Radio Silence. [7] After the race O'Brien commented "He's lazy and doesn't do a lot when he gets to the front, but he quickened nicely to get there. He'll come back here for the National Stakes next month. We think he's a Guineas horse and that he'll get further than a mile. He might get a mile and a half but the way he works you wouldn't be sure about that at this stage". [8]
On 11 September, over the same course and distance, Churchill started the odds-on favourite for Ireland's most prestigious race for juveniles, the Group One Vincent O'Brien National Stakes. The best of his six rivals appeared to be the British-trained Mehmas (ridden by Frankie Dettori), whose wins included the July Stakes and Richmond Stakes. Ridden by Moore, Churchill briefly struggled to obtain a clear run before taking the lead in the final furlong and then drawing away to win "comfortably" by 4+1⁄4 lengths from Mehmas. [9] O'Brien said "He's a very exciting horse. He settled and he quickened and I thought that he went like a real miler, but Ryan was adamant that a mile and a quarter would be no problem to him next year either. He can be idle when he hits the front so it was lovely when Frankie's horse eyeballed him and kind of leaned into him up the run in because that's exactly what he wanted. He would have learned a lot today". [10]
Churchill was then sent to England for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on 8 October. With Moore again in the saddle he was made the 8/11 favourite against six opponents including South Seas (winner of the Solario Stakes), Blue Point and Rivet. The O'Brien stable's pacemaker Lancaster Bomber took the lead from the start with Churchill restrained in mid-division. After briefly struggling to obtain a clear run the favourite took the lead inside the final furlong and won by 1+1⁄4 lengths from Lancaster Bomber with Blue Point in third place and Thunder Snow in fourth. [11]
Churchill was favourite for both the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby throughout the winter of 2016/7 and the spring of 2017. Rather than run in any of the recognised trial races, Churchill made his debut as a three-year-old in the 2000 Guineas on 6 May at Newmarket, in which he was accompanied by his stablemates Lancaster Bomber and Spirit of Valor. He was made favourite ahead of nine opponents headed by Barney Roy (Greenham Stakes), Al Wukair (Prix Djebel) and Eminent (Craven Stakes). After tracking the leaders he took the lead approaching the final furlong and won by a length from Barney Roy with Al Wukair and Lancaster Bomber close behind in third and fourth. [12] After the race Moore commented "He has a magnificent mind, he travels, has speed and loads of class. He was always racing comfortably – he was there a little bit early. He always feels like there's more when you ask him", whilst O'Brien, who was winning the race for a record eighth time said "I was very worried about it being his first run. He's a big horse and we knew he would come on for the run. Ryan gave him a lovely ride. Everyone at home was very happy with the horse which is why we took the chance to come first time, so I'm delighted". [13]
Three weeks after his win at Newmarket, Churchill started 4/9 favourite for the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh. Thunder Snow and Lancaster Bomber were again in opposition while the best of the other four runners appeared to be the previously undefeated Irishcorrespondent. Lancaster Bomber set the pace with Churchill settled towards the rear of the field before moving up on the outside in the straight. He took the lead from Thunder Snow approaching the final furlong and drew away in the closing stages to win by 2+1⁄2 lengths. [14] Ryan Moore commented "He wasn't enjoying the ground so I tried to help him along, but when I asked him he was there". [15]
At Royal Ascot on 20 June Churchill started odds-on favourite as he attempted to extend his winning run in the St James's Palace Stakes. He was restrained in the early stages as Lancaster Bomber set a steady pace but was unable to make any significant progress in the straight and finished fourth behind Barney Roy, Lancaster Bomber and Thunder Snow. After a break of more than two months, Churchill returned for the International Stakes at York Racecourse in which he was matched against older horses and moved up in distance to 10+1⁄2 furlongs. He was made the 5/2 favourite and raced in third place before making progress in the straight but was beaten two lengths into second place by the four-year-old Ulysses.
Churchill retired to Coolmore Stud at the end of his 2017 season. Standing for an initial fee of €35,000, this dropped to €30,000 from 2020 and then to his current fee of €25,000 for 2022. Since 2018 Churchill has also shuttled to Coolmore Australia. From his first crop of two-year-olds in 2021 he produced five black type winners. In 2022 Churchill had his first Group 1 winner as a sire after Vadeni won the Prix du Jockey Club.
c = colt, f = filly , g = gelding
Foaled | Name | Sex | Major wins |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Vadeni | c | Prix du Jockey Club, Eclipse Stakes |
2020 | Blue Rose Cen | f | Prix Marcel Boussac, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Prix de Diane, Prix de l'Opéra |
On 8 November 2016 Churchill was named Champion two-year-old colt at the Cartier Racing Awards. [16] In the official European Classification of two-year-olds for 2016 Churchill was given a rating of 122, making him the best juvenile of the season, one pound ahead of the filly Lady Aurelia and four pounds ahead of the colts Thunder Snow and National Defense. [17]
In the 2017 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, Churchill was rated the twelfth-best horse in the world and the joint-best horse in Ireland. [18]
Sire Galileo (IRE) 1998 | Sadler's Wells (USA) 1981 | Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
---|---|---|---|
Natalma | |||
Fairy Bridge | Bold Reason | ||
Special | |||
Urban Sea (USA) ch. 1989 | Miswaki | Mr. Prospector | |
Hopespringseternal | |||
Allegretta | Lombard | ||
Anatevka | |||
Dam Meow (IRE) 2008 | Storm Cat (USA) 1983 | Storm Bird | Northern Dancer |
South Ocean | |||
Terlingua | Secretariat | ||
Crimson Saint | |||
Airwave (GB) 2000 | Air Express | Salse | |
Ibtisamm | |||
Kangra Valley | Indian Ridge | ||
Thorner Lane (Family 19-a) [4] |
Oratorio is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 2004 he won four of his seven races including the Anglesey Stakes, Futurity Stakes and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère as well as finishing second in the Phoenix Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. He showed his best form when tried over a mile and a quarter in 2005, when he defeated strong international fields in the Eclipse Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes, beating The Derby winner Motivator on both occasions. He was retired to stud at the end of 2005 and has had some success as a sire of winners.
Law Society was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from August 1984 until July 1985 he won five of his eight races and was rated among the best of his generation in Europe in both years. As a two-year-old he won the Anglesey Stakes and the National Stakes in Ireland before being narrowly defeated in the Dewhurst Stakes. In the following year he won the Chester Vase and finished second in The Derby before recording his biggest win when defeating a strong international field in the Irish Derby. He was retired from racing at the end of his three-year-old season and stood as a breeding stallion in Ireland and Germany with some success. Law Society died in 2011 at the age of twenty-nine.
Dickens Hill was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. The colt showed promising form as a two-year-old in 1978, winning the Anglesey Stakes and being narrowly beaten by the English-trained Tap On Wood in the National Stakes. In the following year he emerged as the best Irish racehorse of his generation, winning the Ballymoss Stakes and the Irish 2000 Guineas in Ireland in spring and the weight-for-age Eclipse Stakes in Britain in July. He also finished runner-up to the outstanding English-trained colt Troy in both The Derby and the Irish Derby. At the end of his three-year-old season he was sold and exported to the United States where he made little impact as a racehorse and proved to be a disappointment as a breeding stallion.
Godswalk was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A specialist sprinter, he won eight of his eleven races in a racing career which lasted from the spring of 1976 until September 1977. As a two-year-old he won five of his seven races including the Norfolk Stakes and was rated the best colt of his generation in Ireland. In the following year he established himself as one of the best sprinters in Europe, winning three of his four races including the Ballyogan Stakes in Ireland and the King's Stand Stakes in England. After his retirement from racing, Godswalk had some success as a sire of winners in Europe and Australia.
Gleneagles is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. After finishing fourth on his debut, he finished first in his remaining five races as a two-year-old in 2014 and was named Cartier Champion Two-year-old Colt. He won the Tyros Stakes, Futurity Stakes and National Stakes in Ireland before being disqualified after crossing the line in first place in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère in France. On his three-year-old debut he won the 2000 Guineas and followed up in the Irish 2,000 Guineas three weeks later. In June he added a win in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Minding is a champion Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2016 European Horse of the Year after winning the Epsom Oaks, 1000 Guineas, and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Order of St George is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He is a specialist stayer whose wins include two Irish St. Legers and an Ascot Gold Cup.
Highland Reel is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career running from June 2014 to December 2017 he raced in Ireland, Britain, France, the United States, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai, and recorded seven victories at Group 1 or Grade 1 level in the Secretariat Stakes, Hong Kong Vase (twice), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Breeders' Cup Turf, Coronation Cup and Prince of Wales's Stakes. He was also placed in the Prix du Jockey Club, Cox Plate, International Stakes, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Champion Stakes. He holds the record for the greatest amount of prize money earned by a racehorse trained in Europe.
Tate Gallery was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A full-brother to Sadler's Wells he won two of his five races in a track career which lasted from August 1985 until May 1986. As a two-year-old he finished unplaced in the Phoenix Stakes on his debut before winning a maiden race and then recorded his biggest victory in the National Stakes. In the following spring he ran third in the Gladness Stakes and then finished last in the 2000 Guineas before being retired from racing. In a brief stud career he sired several good winners, most notably Lyric Fantasy.
Alfred Nobel is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 2009 he was beaten in his first two races but after winning a maiden race at his third attempt he went on to record major victories in the Railway Stakes and the Phoenix Stakes. He was beaten in three subsequent races that year and failed to recover his form in two starts as a three-year-old. After his retirement from racing he stood a breeding stallion in Ireland and Australia.
Zoffany was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was one of the best two-year-olds of 2010 in Ireland when he won five of his seven races including the Golden Fleece Stakes, Tyros Stakes and Phoenix Stakes. In the following year he failed to win a race but produced a career-best effort to run Frankel to three quarters of a length in the St James's Palace Stakes. He was retired from racing at the end of the year to become a breeding stallion and made a very promising start to his stud career. He died on 8 January 2021 at the age of 13 due to liver failure.
Caravaggio is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old he was one of the best colts of his generation in Europe when he was unbeaten in four races including the Marble Hill Stakes, Coventry Stakes and Phoenix Stakes. In the following year he took his winning run to six with victories in the Lacken Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup but his only success in four subsequent starts came in the Flying Five. He was retired from racing at the end of 2017 having won seven of his ten starts. Aidan O'Brien described him as the fastest horse that he had ever trained.
Caerwent was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Despite contesting only two races as a juvenile he was rated the best horse of his generation after a five-length win in the Group 1 National Stakes. In the following spring he maintained his unbeaten record with a victory in the Harp Lager 2000 Guineas Trial but was narrowly beaten by his stablemate Prince of Birds in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He went on to win the Irish International Stakes and was placed in the St James's Palace Stakes, Vernons Sprint Cup and Prix de l'Abbaye. He was retired to stud at the end of his second but made little impact as a breeding stallion.
Beckett was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Sold as a yearling for 1.7 million guineas he showed very good form as a two-year-old in 2000 when he won two of his three races including the Group 1 National Stakes. He was sidelined for a year by injury, but returned in the autumn of 2001 to take a strong edition of the Joel Stakes. He was retired at the end of the year to become a breeding stallion and stood in Ireland and Australia but made little impact as a sire of winners.
Mus-If was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. Originally trained in Ireland, he was a top-class performer as a juvenile in 1998 when he finished second in both the Tyros Stakes and the Futurity Stakes before recording his biggest win in the Group 1 National Stakes. After failing to win as a three-year-old he was sent to the United States and gelded. Returning to the track in 2001 he made little impact in two starts but did much better in the following year when he won five races including the Henry S. Clark Stakes and C. Edmund O'Brien Stakes.
Saxon Warrior is a Japanese-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2017 he was one of the best colts of his generation in Europe, winning all three of his races including the Beresford Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy. On his three-year-old debut the colt won the 2000 Guineas before finishing fourth when odds-on favourite for the 2018 Epsom Derby. He went on to be placed in the Irish Derby, Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes.
Magna Grecia is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed top class form as a two-year-old in 2018 when he won two of his three races including the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. On his three-year-old debut he won the 2000 Guineas Stakes.
Anthony Van Dyck was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2019 Epsom Derby. He was a top-class two-year-old in 2018 when he won three of his seven races including the Tyros Stakes and the Futurity Stakes as well as finishing second in the National Stakes and third in the Dewhurst Stakes. He won the Derby Trial Stakes on his three-year-old debut before taking the Epsom Derby on 1 June. Later that year he was placed in the Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf. He remained in training as a four-year-old in 2020, winning the Prix Foy and running second in both the Coronation Cup and the Caulfield Cup. He was euthanized after breaking down in the 2020 Melbourne Cup on 3 November 2020.
Van Gogh is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was named the Champion Two-year-old Colt of Europe in 2020 when he won two of his seven races including the Group 1 Critérium International as well as finishing second in the Tyros Stakes, Juvenile Stakes and Autumn Stakes.
Luxembourg is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the best European two-year-olds in 2021 when he was unbeaten in three races, including the Beresford Stakes in Ireland and the Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy in England. As a three-year-old, the horse won the Group One Irish Champion Stakes.