Churchill Filly A Deserving Winner Of Longchamp Group 2

Saturday saw Prix de Diane runner-up Survie (3f Churchill – Sotteville, by Le Havre) gain a well-deserved Stakes success in the Group 2 Prix de Malleret at Longchamp.

The Nicolas Clement-trained bay was sent off favourite for her narrow Group 1 defeat to Sparkling Plenty last month, when she was short of room at a vital stage. Tracking the leaders under Stephane Pasquier, she was shaken up two furlongs from home and quickened to lead 100 yards later. She ran on well to win in comfortable fashion, with a length and a quarter the winning margin.

“The filly deserved this,” said the winning trainer. “I'm delighted for her owner-breeder Gerard Augustin-Normand, who is a great sportsman.”

Looking ahead, Clement continued, “She is very consistent and she'll have a short break before we prepare her for the Prix Vermeille in all likelihood. She's entered in the Arc but, one thing at a time. They didn't go that hard today and I'd like to see her in a truly run race before I'd be convinced about the trip.”

The daughter of Churchill won both her starts last year and returned to finish third in a Group 3 and Group 2 on her first two starts of the season. Owned and bred by Gerard Augustin-Normand, he is the best performer to-date out of his homebred mare Sotteville.