Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
A pair of Irish-bred mares by the great Fastnet Rock combined for a near perfect day at Arawa Park for Pencarrow Stud.
The Cambridge nursery’s representative Churchillian (Churchill) is the first foal of Fond De Coeur and headlined the program when she doubled her black-type tally with victory in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) on Saturday for trainer Tony Pike.
In partnership with Katom, Pencarrow also bred and sold Midnight Train, with the promising three-year-old running a close second in age group company over 1400m on Saturday.
He is a son of the multiple stakes placed Assume and the Ralph Manning-prepared three-year-old had previously finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1600m).
While both broodmares have subsequently been sold, they have done their part by contributing to Pencarrow’s roll of honour.
“Fastnet Rock is a great influence, and it can take a bit of time to come through, but unfortunately you can’t keep them all,” Stud Manager Leon Casey said.
By Galileo’s son Churchill, Churchillian was sold by Pencarrow at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale to agent Paul Willetts for $100,000, with her dam Fond Du Coeur out of a sister to three-time international Group One winner Pride.
The freegoing six-year-old has now won 10 races, including last season’s Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham.
In typical fashion, Churchillian rolled forward and held a strong gallop in the run home for rider Joe Doyle to account for multiple stakes winner Platinum Diamond.
“She’s a really tough and hard-wearing mare with plenty of quality about her as well,” Casey said.
Pencarrow sold Churchillian’s half-sister by U S Navy Flag to leading trainer Ciaron Maher at Karaka for $80,000 and as Navy Heart has been a multiple winner and fourth in the Gr.3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) before Fond Du Coeur was moved on.
The lightly raced Midnight Train has won once from six starts with a further four placings and Pencarrow have retained a two-year-old half-sister by Circus Maximus after she was passed in at Karaka.
“We kept the filly and she is spelling on our hill block at the moment,” Casey said.
