It’s been about six weeks since Coolmore’s shuttle stallions departed Australia for their Northern Hemisphere commitments, and among them was the four-time Group 1-winning Churchill (Ire). The Irish horse covered his fourth Australian book last spring, and he celebrated his first Australian winner on Wednesday at Warwick Farm’s midweek meeting.
Two-year-old colt Robusto, a homebred for Ingham Racing, was sent out a clear favourite for the juveniles' race early on. Trained by Chris Waller and with James McDonald aboard, the smart bay colt showed his opposition a very clean set of heels.
Jumping from barrier three, Robusto took the earliest of leads on the rail with Calamity Fox (Foxwedge) on his flank. The pace was ordinary in the opening stages, and into the turn Calamity Fox was off the bridle as Robusto coasted along.
By the straight, McDonald shook up the colt and the pair surged clear by the 200 metres. Robusto wavered around in the final bit, but he was never threatened and dashed strongly away for a 3.86l win. The Fung family-owned Williamsburg (Snitzel) was second, with 4.01l to the Vieira Racing filly A Lot More Love (Sebring) for third.
The 1300 metres was ticked off in 1:18.03, the final 600 metres in 34.77s on a track rated a Soft 6.
Plenty of merit
Robusto broke his maiden on Wednesday at the third time of asking.
In the spring, he’d been fourth on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong S. at Flemington, and this side of Christmas he was third to Godolphin’s Sandpaper (Snitzel) in a Canterbury maiden.
“He showed us plenty pre-Christmas, but he took time to work it all out,” said Charlie Duckworth, who represented Waller trackside on Wednesday. “He was still pretty green today when he (McDonald) went for him in the final furlong or so. So there’s good improvement still to come from him.”
“He (Robusto) showed us plenty pre-Christmas, but he took time to work it all out.” - Charlie Duckworth
The Waller yard also used this race last year as a stepping stone for Head Of State (American Pharoah {USA}) who, in the Coolmore colours, went on to win the G3 Gloaming S. last spring. Duckworth drew a few comparisons of the colts.
“I don’t know if this colt will go as far as Head Of State at this stage, but he’s done a good job so far,” he said. “The horse on his outside coming to the turn (Calamity Fox) dropping back through the field probably aided us a little bit, but there was plenty of merit in it (the win) and it was well-rated.”
Robusto being educated at Coolmore | Image courtesy of Coolmore
Duckworth added he was always pleased to see the famous Cerise colours do well for the stable.
“It’s great to get a winner for the Inghams as they’re so loyal to Chris, and long may it continue,” he said.
McDonald returned to scale with a good opinion of Robusto.
“He’s a lovely style of horse,” the jockey said. “He’s pretty big and strong and a lovely son of Churchill. He’ll go on with the job.”
A Clean page
Robusto emerges from the first Australian crop of Churchill, and he was as stylish a first winner on Wednesday as any stallion could want.
Robusto as a yearling | Image courtesy of Coolmore
“Robusto has always been a talking horse from the Waller stable, right from very early on in the piece,” said Tom Moore, Coolmore Australia’s Marketing and Nominations.
“He was raised and grazed here at Coolmore for the Ingham family, and he was broken-in here at Coolmore where he impressed everyone from day one. He ran with great distinction on debut in the Maribyrnong Trial, so he’s always showed us significant ability, and he looks like he’ll only get better as he gets through the grades.”
“He (Robusto) was raised and grazed here at Coolmore for the Ingham family, and he was broken-in here at Coolmore where he impressed everyone from day one.” - Tom Moore
Robusto was a late-August foal in 2019, the third from the Redoute’s Choice broodmare She’s Clean and the first winner. The Inghams bought the mare at the 2010 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, paying $300,000 for her from the draft of her breeder, Arrowfield Stud, and they’ve retained all her progeny to date.
She’s Clean was a Group 3 winner and a twice Listed winner during her career, and she boasts plenty of European form on her page.
Her dam is a half-sister to the well-performed Australian-bred, Japanese sire Kinshasa No Kiseki, while further along there are the European Group winners Groom Dancer (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}), Tagel (USA) (Cox’s Ridge {USA}) and Balladeuse (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire}).
Robusto as a foal | Image courtesy of Coolmore
Churchill gets going
Robusto is one of just five runners to represent Churchill to date in Australia, and the Irish stallion is shaping as a promising first-season sire.
Churchill departed Australia in mid-December off the back of his fourth book being his biggest yet in Australia. He covered 160 mares, which bettered his debut book of 140, along with his subsequent books of 101 and 119 mares in 2019 and 2020.
Churchill (Ire) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“The fact of Churchill covering more mares in his fourth season than he ever has before, and before he’s even had a runner in Australia, is a very good sign of what the trainers have in their stables and what they believe the horses possess,” Moore said.
“With his first runners in Europe last year, Churchill started off his stud career better than any other son of Galileo has at stud, and that translated in a significant jump in bookings to him for the 2021 season.”
“With his first runners in Europe last year, Churchill started off his stud career better than any other son of Galileo has at stud, and that translated in a significant jump in bookings to him for the 2021 season.” - Tom Moore
Among the mares that visited Churchill at Jerrys Plains last spring was Reggie (NZ) (Germano {GB}), the dam of Group 1 winner Heavens Above (Street Cry {Ire}), and John Foote’s Group 3-winning mare Felicienne (Al Maher). There were plenty others.
Churchill stood for $22,000 (inc GST) in the spring, and that’s looking like good buying given his 2022 European fee is €25,000 (AU$40,000).
“Churchill has always resonated with Australian breeders,” Moore said. “He covered 140 mares in his first season at a fee of $27,500, and they sold particularly well at the sales last year. They went down really well with the Australian buying bench, and trainers and agents went to the sales last year specifically targeting his progeny and they sold accordingly.”
“Churchill has always resonated with Australian breeders.” - Tom Moore
To date across 2021 and 2022, Churchill has had 40 yearlings sell through Australian sales.
They are headed in the colts’ division by the $250,000 son of Heavens Touch (Choisir) who sold at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. That youngster, now named Oxfordshire, was bought from Willow Park Stud by Anthony Freedman.
Among the fillies, Churchill’s best-selling yearling has been the $230,000 daughter of Diamond Fever (High Chaparral {Ire}) sold just this week at the Inglis Classic Sale. Offered by Bell River Thoroughbreds, Lot 501 was bought by Tim Martin.
Lot 501 - Churchill (Ire) x Diamond Fever (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
With a strong-starting sales record behind him therefore, and so many credentials in his favour, Churchill has achieved an early, good footing in Australia, which isn’t always easy in the shuttle game.
His first Northern Hemisphere crop have made a strong mark, with 28 winners, including three stakes winners.
“Churchill is a gorgeous horse,” Moore said. “He’s a strong and powerful son of Galileo from a very fast family, and he was a fast and precocious horse himself. His racing profile suggests that he will suit Australia equally as much as his physical presence.”
