Churchill 2YO Filly Impressive
Astute trainer Kris Lees is never frightened to start a talented horse off in the country with Group I Queensland Oaks winner Amokura starting her career with an unplaced debut at Taree earlier this year and that venue was also chosen for a promising filly Lady Soames (2f Churchill x Lady Iveagh, by More Than Ready).
Having her second start, Lady Soames was sent out favourite in the 1262m maiden and bolted in for Andrew Gibbons to win by three lengths in the Australian Bloodstock colours.
She made it back to back winners in the first two races for her sire Churchill with his three year-old gelding Hot Wok breaking his maiden in the previous race.
Lady Soames was a $45,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Coolmore draft for Australian Bloodstock and is the first winner for Lady Iveagh, a winning half-sister by More Than Ready to Champion 3YO Filly and triple Group I winner Samantha Miss, the dam of Group II winner Miss Fabulass.
Kris Lees is very familiar with the family having trained Miss Fabulass and her dam Samantha Miss, who won the Group I VRC Oaks, ATC Champagne Stakes and Flight Stakes in an illustrious career that saw her win over $1.7million
Lady Iveagh had a colt by King’s Legacy last spring and is now in foal to Wootton Bassett.
Churchill has sired 22 Australian winners this season including promising Group placed two year-old filly Cigar Flick (2f Churchill x Palmateer, by Fastnet Rock), who barrier trialled nicely at Canterbury on Monday morning in good style for her next campaign for champion trainer Chris Waller.
Churchill returns to Australia this spring at a fee of $22,000.