Churchill Rewards Breeders Handsomely At Tattersalls

Churchill’s first crop saw him enter the top ten stallion table at last week’s Tattersalls Foal Sale, where a select offering of nine foals returned an average price of 99,556gns and total of 896,000gns.

Norman Court Stud celebrated a terrific result when their May-born colt bred from a covering fee of €35,000 sold for 220,000gns. Baroda Stud paired up with Peter and Ross Doyle to secure the colt (Lot 1050), who is closely related to Grade 2 winner Nancy From Nairobi.

John McAteer of Ballycrighaun Stud was another breeder thrilled by the sale of his Churchill colt foal, who sold for 190,000gns to Camas Park Stud. Four years ago, McAteer paid €25,000 for the dam Tanyeli (Mastercraftsman), a half-sister to two Stakes winners, and this is her highest-priced produce to date.

Speaking to the Racing Post after the sale, the delighted breeder said, “Obviously Galileo over Danehill Dancer has been a fantastic cross over the years, and the American influences in Churchill's pedigree - with Storm Cat and Miswaki - pairs lovely with Kris S. Mastercraftsman's already had a good year as a broodmare sire too, with Loving Gaby winning a Group 1 in Australia. It's worked out great; he was bred to be a handsome individual and he's turned out to be just that. Please god he'll turn out to be a racehorse too.”

Camas Park Stud had earlier purchased a good-looking son of Churchill from Ringfort Stud for 105,000gns. Offered as Lot 878, the bay is out of a winning half-sister to multiple Stakes winner Jack Sullivan and comes from the family of top-class racemare Seventh Heaven (Galileo).

Agent Margaret O’Toole bought three from Churchill’s first crop at Tattersalls, with other buyers including Blandford Bloodstock and Jamie Railton. It follows on from a terrific start by Churchill at Goffs, where all three of his foals offered sold for six-figure sums.