Churchill Metro Double Highlights Massive Week

Tara Madgwick - Sunday May 21

Heading back to Coolmore Australia this spring, Churchill (IRE) has had a big week in Europe siring three Group winners – Blue Rose Cen, The Foxes and Yashin - and in Australia had a metropolitan double on Saturday at Flemington.

Jenny Jerome wins at Flemington - image Brett  Holburt / Racing Photos

Stakes-placed filly Jenny Jerome is racing well in her current preparation for Patrick Payne and stormed to the line out wide to make it back-to-back metro wins in the Benchmark 78 event over 1400m.

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A homebred for the Tait family, Jenny Jerome has been very consistent with foru wins and three placigns from 13 starts and prizemoney just shy of $180,000.

She is a half-sister to Group II winner Cherry Tortoni and is one of four winners from Tortoni, a half-sister by Strategic to Champion Stayer and 13 time Group I winner Tie the Knot.

Bringing up the double for Churchill was First Immortal, an up and coming staying prospect trained by Mark and Levi Kavanagh.

First Immortal wins at Flemington - image Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

He’s making rapid progress through his grades and score a dominant victory over 2000m, his third win from just eight starts with earnings topping $134,000.

“He’s very green and will get better with time,” said Mark Kavanagh.

“He’s a very promising horse with a very good turn of foot. We won’t push him to go to Queensland at this stage, I’d rather keep him here and go through his grades and there might be something better for him in the spring.”

A $160,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Kavanagh Racing from the Widden Stud draft, First Immortal is the best of two winners from Storm Siren, a half-sister by Excites to Group I winner Hot King Prawn and Group III winner Siren’s Fury.

Churchill (IRE) stands at a fee of $22,000.

Churchill stands at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $22,000.

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