With his oldest European progeny just turned three, Galileo’s champion son Churchill (IRE) gave the promise of better things to come here in Australia when posting his first Southern Hemisphere winner at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
A homebred for the Ingham family trained by Chris Waller, good looking colt Robusto was sent to the post favourite for the 1300m maiden on the strength of very good efforts at his previous two starts.
He was fourth on debut in the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial at Flemington during the spring and was then a close third at his first run back from a spell at Canterbury on January 28.
With race experience on his side and a slight step up in distance, Robusto found conditions to suit and powered to the lead for James McDonald.
He controlled the race before kicking away down the running and despite racing a little greenly close to home had far too much class and scored by nearly four lengths.
“He showed plenty of promise pre-Christmas, but has take a little while to work it all out,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth.
“It’s great to see that first winner for Churchill. He’s done a very good job and it’s lovely for the Ingham’s who have been such great supporters of Chris.”
James McDonald was well pleased with Robusto.
“He’s a lovely style of horse, big and strong, so should go right on with the job,” he said.
Robusto was foaled and raised at Coolmore for the Ingham family and was also broken in and educated at their Jerry’s Plains farm.
He is the third foal and first winner for Group III winning Redoute’s Choice mare She’s Clean, who was bought by the Ingham family for $300,000 from the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She was also trained by Chris Waller and went on to win over $700,000 on the track.
She’s Clean is a blue-blood being closely related to Group I winning Redoute’s Choice mares Abbey Marie and Absolutely as well as dual Group I winning $2.2million earner Nettoyer.
Churchill has sired three stakes-winners from his first Northern Hemisphere crop with Robusto his first winner here in Australia.
A Group I winner at two and three up to a mile, Churchill was popular again last spring at Coolmore covering 160 mares at a fee of $22,000.
He had a good result at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale this week with Tim Martin purchasing the Bell River Thoroughbreds consigned filly from Diamond Fever for $230,000.
