Classic Success For Churchill’s Blue Rose Cen

Blue Rose Cen (3f Churchill - Queen Blossom, by Jeremy) lived up to expectations in Sunday’s Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches as she ran out a clear-cut winner for Christopher Head and owner/breeder Yeguada Centurion.

The daughter of Churchill stamped her class when running out an impressive winner of the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac last season and followed up on her seasonal return in a Group 3 over course and distance. Sent off favourite for the fillies’ Classic, she chased the leader for much of the way under Aurelien Lemaitre and was asked to quicken upon entering the straight. Ridden to lead approaching the final furlong, she soon drew clear and ran on strongly to score by a length and three quarters.

“She's brilliant, what a filly,” Christopher Head declared. “She does everything easily - in front or [ridden from] the back. I am speechless because you always dream about winning these races and when it happens, you're a bit surprised.”

A step up in trip in the Prix de Diane is next for Blue Rose Cen, Head revealed, “I just can't wait to see her over a longer distance as we've been doing the same thing for several races now and we need to see something new. She’s got tougher with time and her pedigree suggests she will be able to go further.”