Back To Back Wins For Smart Son Of Churchill

Maso Bastie (3g Churchill - Opportuna, by Rock Hard Ten) kicked off a smart treble for Churchill on Tuesday when making a successful return to action at Nottingham.

Trained by James Fanshawe for Mrs AM Swinburn, the son of Churchill won his second start in December and stepped up to ten furlongs on reappearance. Racing in touch under Daniel Muscutt, he was pushed along approaching the two furlong marker and led a furlong later. Ridden soon after, he was headed by the favourite 110 yards out but battled back to lead by a head on the line, with the front pair drawing seven lengths clear of the field.

Maso Bastie was bred by Chasemore Farm out of their homebred mare Opportuna.

At Wolverhampton later that day, Peony (3f Churchill - Nancy Hart, by Sepoy) carried the colours of breeder David Ward to victory in the fillies’ maiden over six furlongs.

The Ed Walker-trained bay finished a promising second in a Class 2 contest on debut last season and returned in March to claim runners-up honours once again. Sent off favourite on Tuesday, she raced prominently under Ross Coakley and was ridden from two furlongs out. Leading inside the final furlong, she kept on well to win by a length and a quarter.

Savrola (4g Churchill - Toujours L’Amour, by Authorized) completed a quickfire double on the card for his sire when landing the very next race. It marked a second career success for the bay, who is trained by James Ferguson for Salah Fustok.