Winning Return for G1 Churchill Filly

The Group III Prix de la Grotte (1600m) at Longchamp marked the return of outstanding filly Blue Rose Cen (3f Churchill x Queen Blossom, by Jeremy), who was resuming after finishing her juvenile season with a Group I win in the Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches (1600m).

The Christopher Head trained filly went straight to the front and led all the way to score a dominant length and a half win.

“I am delighted with the performance, because she did it with authority from the front,” trainer Christopher Head said.

“She had a real campaign as a two-year-old and we had to see how she would run first time out. Now she has a race under her belt, she will come on for the run hopefully and head to the French Guineas [the May 14 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches] next.”

A homebred for Yeguada Centurion SLU, Blue Rose Cen is the first foal from dual Group III winner Queen Blossom and has the impressive record of five wins and a second from seven starts.

She is one of two Group I winners for Churchill, who covered 146 mares in Australia last year and has had 19 winners here this season highlighted by six stakes performers headed by quality colt Attrition (3c Churcill x Queen's Kiss, by French Deputy), a close second in the Group I VRC Australian Guineas.