Progressive Churchill Filly Lands Competitive Maiden

Ladies Church (2f Churchill - Rioticism, by Rio De La Plata) built on a promising debut to land Wednesday’s five furlong fillies maiden at Tipperary.

Fourth to the well-bred Impeachd Alexander (Starspangledbanner) earlier this month, the Johnny Murtagh-trained chesnut was ridden to chase the leaders by Ben Coen. Shaken up at the two furlong pole, she was ridden to lead approaching the final furlong and ran on well to score by three parts of a length.

“We always liked her and she came on an awful lot from the first day,” Coen later commented. “I think she'll be better again when she steps up to six furlongs again. She was good and straightforward, she jumped and travelled and quickened up well.”

Owned by Mark Dobbin, Ladies Church was bought as a yearling for £160,000, having cost 62,000gns as a foal. The daughter of Churchill is the first foal bred by Dukes Stud and Overbury Stallions out of Listed winner Rioticism.