Churchill’s Curragh Maiden Winner To Be Aimed At Albany

Heavens Gate (2f Churchill – Itqaan, by Danzig) earned her place on Ballydoyle’s Royal Ascot team when producing a smart performance at the Curragh on Irish Guineas weekend.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly finished a close second on debut earlier this month and stepped up to six furlongs in the fillies’ maiden on Sunday. Ridden prominently by Ryan Moore, she travelled well when asserting before the final furlong and soon went clear. She was pushed out to beat stablemate January by two and a quarter lengths, with another half a length back to promising newcomer Grande Marques in third.

“We think she’s an Albany filly,” O’Brien commented after the race. “She came forward from Navan which Ryan thought she would. She’s a good smart filly. Her dam is 22 and hadn’t bred a good one until now- Churchill is obviously a decent stallion.”

The daughter of Churchill is owned by Coolmore partners and was bred by Whisperview Trading.