Debut Winners Complete Double For Churchill

Churchill was responsible for two debut winners on Thursday, beginning Winchurch (2c Churchill – Alenova, by Kodiac) justifying favouritism in the five furlong Novice Stakes at Southwell.

Michael Appleby’s charge was asked to quicken from three furlongs out and made headway when ridden approaching the final furlong. Leading inside the final 110 yards, he kept on well to win by a length under Alistair Rawlinson.

Bred by Craig and Laura Buckingham, Winchurch is owned by SBK Racing with Parr Racing Ltd.

That evening at Chelmsford, Aquacell (3f Churchill – Aquamarine, by Deep Impact) produced a game performance to win the fillies’ maiden over seven furlongs.

Jane Chapple-Hyam’s newcomer tracked the leaders from an early stage and was forced to switch right when facing a troubled passage approaching the final furlong. Running on well, she led inside the final 110 yards and kept on to beat the favourite So Logical (Footstepsinthesand) by a length and a quarter.

Aquacell is owned by China Horse Club International, who bought the Churchill filly as a yearling for €300,000. She was bred by Andriy Milovonov and Victor Tymoshenko out of Aquamarine, who has a two-year-old full-sister to the winner.