$200,000 Churchill Filly Tops Karaka Book 2 Day 1

Media Release - Wednesday January 27

Cambridge trainer Roger James has experienced a frustrating last few days at Karaka, so he was delighted to get the filly he wanted in the Book 2 session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale on Wednesday.

He was underbidder on a number of the top lots in Book 1 and admitted it was a challenging experience.

Lot 725, the Churchill filly, was purchased by Cambridge trainer Roger James for $200,000. Photo: Trish Dunell

“I added it up this morning and we were underbidder on lots that brought $1.85 million, so I wasn’t a happy chappy last night,” he said.

While despondent about missing out on a number of his desired lots, he headed to Karaka on Wednesday adamant that he would not be outdone yet again.

Advertisement

Co-trainer Robert Wellwood had identified lot 725, the Churchill filly, out of Berkley Stud’s draft this morning, and James was duly impressed with her upon inspecting the filly himself.

“She is a star filly,” he said after going to a session topping $200,000 for the filly.

“I haven’t got an owner for her yet, but that is the next job, trying to find one.

“She has got everything. She is by a great racehorse and she has got the ability to be a Karaka Million horse.

“I only saw her this morning. Robert stayed up last night and he did the short list.

“I didn’t think I would have to pay that money for her, but I had the bit between my teeth and fillies like that are quite rare.”

The filly was the only yearling in the Book 2 session by her sire and James said he was one of the reasons he was drawn to her.

“I followed his (Churchill) whole career,” James said.

“He was a very fast horse for a Galileo. People normally associate Galileos with a bit of time, but he was a great two and three-year-old and he held a world ranking at some stage.

“They don’t get that without being pretty special.”

The filly topped day one of the Book two session and Berkley Stud’s Edwina Morris and Alan Jones were delighted with the result after purchasing her dam for A$50,000.

“The mare was one of two we bought in Melbourne,” they said.

“She was in foal to Churchill and we liked his chances too, being a fast son of Galileo.”

The filly had proven popular at the Karaka sales complex and Jones and Morris thought they were going to be able to recoup their initial outlay for the mare.

“There was huge interest in the filly,” they said. “She is going to be bigger than her mother. Her x-rays and scope were excellent.

“We thought she'd make $50,000 to $60,000. She has gone to a great stable, so we are delighted.” – NZ Racing Desk

 

 

Visit the profile page for Churchill

Churchill in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
More Aussie Purchases at Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale Day 3
Strong trade continued on the third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale headed by the two-year-old LA BELLOTA at 425,000 guineas with eight lots realising 200,000 guineas or more and a clearance rate above 90%.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Depth aplenty in November (Early) Online Sale
The dam of and a sister to G1 sprinter Oscar’s Fortune, mares in foal on desirable covers and an unreserved dispersal from a respected bloodstock operator are among the highlights of the Inglis Digital November (Early) Online Sale.
Flightline and Cogburn Shares Highlight Inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale
Stallion shares in Horse of the Year and exciting young sire Flightline and also Widden Stud's new shuttle prospect Cogburn changed hands at the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Before They Were Stars
Spring racing in Australia is in full swing and while many people are studying video with a view to backing winners, others are spending just as much time assessing breeze up footage with a view to finding the next champions to emerge from the NZB Ready to Run Sale, so what does a champion look like?
Knight's Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.