Churchill Juvenile Follows Up In Good Style At Leopardstown

Orchidaceae (2f Churchill – Elleanthus, by War Command) followed up her Curragh maiden win with another smart success at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.

Andy Oliver’s representative was sent off joint-favourite as she stepped up to seven furlongs and was ridden to make all by Billy Lee. Ridden clear approaching the final furlong, she kept on well to win by two lengths, with another length and a quarter back to Green Triangle (Gleneagles) in third.

Speaking after the race, the winning trainer said, “Orchidaceae won well at the Curragh so we were quite hopeful coming here. Everything went to plan and it was very straightforward. She loves that ground and we will have to look at stepping her up in grade.”

Oliver mentioned the Silver Flash Stakes as a possible target for the winner, who he owned with Team Valor. The daughter of Churchill was bred by Whisperview Trading out of a half-sister to Grade 1 runner-up Mountain Bear (No Nay Never).