Pair Of Churchill Colts Impress On Seasonal Return

Tuscan (3c Churchill - Orcia, by Shamardal) completed the first leg of an across the card double for Churchill and breeder Kildaragh Stud when landing a competitive Conditions Stakes at Newmarket.

Successful over seven furlongs as a two-year-old, the Charlie Hills-trained bay remained over the same trip on his three-year-old return, with William Buick returning to the bay’s previous prominent racing style. Asked to quicken from three furlongs out, Tuscan rallied approaching the final furlong and kept on well to beat the favourite by three parts of a length on the line.

Four of the last five winners of the race have gone on to win Stakes contests, and a step up in class is now on the cards for Tuscan, according to his trainer, “He enjoyed the quick ground and we may look for a Listed race next. Maybe he could be a Jersey horse.”

Tuscan is owned by John and Jess Dance, whose Manor House Stud bought the son of Churchill for 135,000gns from Glending Stables at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale.

At Ripon later that afternoon, fellow two-year-old winner Blenheim Boy (3c Churchill - Abhasana, by Hawk Wing) shaped better than ever when drawing six and a half lengths clear in the “Cock O’ The North” Handicap.

Trained by Richard Fahey for PD Smith Holdings, he was last seen winning at York in October and appeared to appreciate the step up to a mile on his seasonal return. Sold by breeder Kildaragh Stud as a yearling for 85,000gns, he is one of a number of exciting prospects from the first crop of Churchill.