More To Come From Debut Winner By Churchill

River Thames (2c Churchill - Where’s Sue, by Dark Angel) shaped with plenty of promise on debut when landing Tuesday’s mile maiden at Punchestown.

Racing in midfield under Wayne Lordan, the Aidan O’Brien-trained bay was pushed along from two furlongs out and showed signs of inexperience approaching the final furlong. Ridden to lead, he kept on well to beat the favourite Changingoftheguard (Galileo) by a neck, as newcomer Zuhra (Caravaggio) took third.

“He's a fine big colt and always went nicely at home,” Lordan later revealed. “From halfway, he started to come home well and I felt like he won well at the line. As you can see, he's quite a big two-year-old so next year is hopefully going to be a nice year for him.”

Owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Westerberg, River Thames was bred by Mountain View Stud and JC Bloodstock. The 320,000gns yearling purchase continues a fine start at stud by Churchill, whose son Howth (Churchill) was beaten less than a length in Saturday’s Group 2 Juvenile Stakes.