Churchillian (NZ) Heads Karaka Clean Sweep in Rotorua Stakes

A commanding front-running performance by Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) headlined an all-Karaka finish to the $100,000 Group Three Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

Churchillian was bought for $100,000 by Paul Willetts at Karaka 2021, where she was consigned by her breeders Pencarrow Stud. She has now had 25 starts for 10 wins, including two at Group Three level, and has earned $385,890.

The runner-up in Saturday’s fillies and mares’ feature was Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain), who was a $90,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2024. The three-year-old filly has had nine starts for four wins, a second and $179,575 in stakes.

The third placegetter was Honey Badger (NZ) (El Roca), who has turned her $30,000 purchase price at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale into more than $121,000 in prize-money.

The Tony Pike-trained Churchillian burst on the scene with seven wins from her first 13 starts across her three and four-year-old seasons, including the Group Three Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham in January of 2024.

Restricted to only one start in her five-year-old season because of injury, Churchillian is back doing what she does best this time in. She had already won two races this season before Saturday’s Rotorua Stakes, beating proven black-type performers Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) and December (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the process. But now she has done it at Group Three level for the second time.

Churchillian was ridden by Joe Doyle on Saturday and kicked through underneath the favourite Kitty Flash (NZ) (Ace High) to take the early lead. She controlled the race from there and then threw down the gauntlet to her rivals with a powerful kick at the top of the home straight.

Suddenly Churchillian was four lengths clear, and despite Platinum Diamond’s flying finish from last, there would be no catching the leader. Churchillian still had a two-length margin up her sleeve at the finish line.

“She’s as tough as anything,” Doyle said. “She has a lovely pedigree and is going to make a fantastic broodmare. I’m really grateful to Tony for giving me the call-up, and it’s nice to ride a good winner for him.

“I was delighted to see Kitty Flash had to work so hard and she (Churchillian) managed to get a lungful of air around the 600, which all helped. She kicked so well at the top of the straight.”

Pike was represented at Rotorua on Saturday by Chris McNab.

“She is a marvellous horse and she just put them away today,” he said.

“Tony (Pike) said we are probably best sticking to the fence and it has worked out well. She probably would have got attacked on either side if she hadn’t done that.

“Kitty Flash had to do a lot of work to get outside her, which we had banked on, and everything went picture-perfect the whole way.

“She is a good, tough mare and that is her 10th win today. Not many horses do that. She’s been a great servant to the stable.”

Vendor	Pencarrow Stud
Purchaser	Mr PA Willetts (Auckland)
Breeding	Churchill – Fond Du Coeur
Sale	Lot 408, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $100,000
Breeder	Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd
Owner	Emblem Ltd, G D Melville-Smith, B W Stevenson ONZM, J C & Est late M A Thompson