Champion trainer Chris Waller produced the first Australian winner for exciting young sire Churchill (IRE) when Robusto scored at Warwick Farm last Wednesday and he’s now unleashed his second with a debut victory for Conqueror at Randwick today.
Readers of Breednet ‘s Juvenile Trial Watch stories would have had the heads up for Conqueror, who surged late in a barrier trial last Thursday catching our eye with a good for second and giving the promise of better to come on race day.
Given a good ride by Hugh Bowman from barrier one, Conqueror began well and settled midfield on the fence and was travelling well throughout.
When shown clear running in the straight, he powered up the fence with a good turn of foot to reel in the leaders and win the 1100m maiden by half a length going away.
“It was a really good debut, a great ride by Hugh Bowman and he was strong late,” said stable representative Damien Fitton.
“He’s a very professional colt and another good winner for Churchill. All the Churchill’s we have are precocious and have a great temperament.”
Hugh Bowman was well pleased with the effort of Conqueror, who holds an entry for the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) on April 2.
“We had the luxury of barrier one, which is a huge asset in these types of races, but the acceleration he showed was well above midweek grade and his sire Churchill is off to a great start in Australia,” Bowman said.
A $180,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Star Thoroughbreds / Randwick Bloodstock Agency from the Byerley Stud draft, Conqueror runs for a big syndicate of Star owners, who include his breeder Howard Blight.
Conqueror is the first foal of good metro winning Star Witness mare Dixie Chick, who was also bred and raced by Mr Blight.
A half-sister to Group II placed Hong Kong based sprinter Flasghip Shine, Dixie Chick comes from an imported North American Black Type family and was covered by Golden Slipper winner Farnan last spring after producing a colt by Vancouver.
Conqueror is the second impressive debut winner for Churchill in less than 24 hours with his Northern Hemisphere bred 3YO Gaidar scoring at Chantilly overnight in good style, read about him here.
A champion miler by Galileo, Churchill covered his biggest Australian book so far last spring at Coolmore covering 160 mares at a fee of $22,000.
