Churchillian (NZ) Shows Class Again in Tauranga Classic

Karaka graduate Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) is a rising seven-year-old but still at the peak of her powers, and she added another black-type success to her record in commanding style in Saturday’s $80,000 Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1600m).

Previously the winner of the Group Three Anniversary Handicap (1600m) and Rotorua Stakes (1400m), Churchillian has now had 27 starts for 11 wins, a placing and $406,890 in stakes. She was bought for $100,000 from the Karaka 2021 Book 1 draft of breeders Pencarrow Stud.

Churchillian burst on the scene as a three and four-year-old, when her first 13 starts produced seven wins including the Anniversary Handicap at Trentham in January of 2024.

A frustrating run of injuries later restricted the Tony Pike-trained mare to only one start as a five-year-old, but her connections’ patience has been rewarded with a career-best season at the age of six.

Churchillian has added another four victories to her record this term, including the Rotorua Stakes last month and another dominant performance at Tauranga on Saturday.

Ridden by Samantha Collett, Churchillian adopted her usual front-running tactics in the Tauranga Classic and never gave her rivals a look in.

While many others came wide around the home corner in search of better ground, Collett and Churchillian stayed close to the fence. Churchillian produced a mighty kick that carried her well clear, and there was no danger of defeat from there.

Churchillian went on to score by two lengths.

“Tony and his team have done an amazing job to keep her up and keep her happy in what has been a busy prep for her,” Collett said. “She just has that zest for life, which she showed again today. When I asked her for some more gas, she dug really deep.

“When I asked her to kick at the top of the straight, she was off and was always going to find the line.”

Pike is currently overseas and was represented at Tauranga on Saturday by Ryan Stacey.

“She has been going so well, and we’ve just had to keep getting the work into her since her last run,” Stacey said. “She is just so consistent and is holding that form.

“Sam got her out of the gates well, controlled the race and she has brained them.”

The Tauranga Classic was dominated by NZB graduates, with the second, third and fourth placegetters Kaimai Queen (NZ) (Atlante), Thooza (NZ) (Almanzor) and Tristar (NZ) (Exceedance) all purchased at Karaka.

Runner-up Kaimai Queen cost just $3,000 and has earned over $133,000 along with valuable black type, while Thooza and Tristar were bought for $155,000 and $220,000 respectively.

Vendor	Pencarrow Stud
Purchaser	Mr PA Willetts (Auckland)
Breeding	Churchill – Fond Du Coeur
Sale	Lot 408, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $100,000
Breeder	Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd
Owner	Emblem Ltd, G D Melville-Smith, B W Stevenson ONZM, J C & Est late M A Thompson