Churchill Stayer Wins Listed Parramatta Cup

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 24

Brought to Australia as a Melbourne Cup contender last year, Churchill gelding More Felons (IRE) announced himself as a serious Sydney Cup  candidate with a strong finishing last stride win in the $200,000 Listed ATC Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

More Felons (IRE) sneaks through on the inside to win the Parramatta Cup - image Steve Hart

Trained by Chris Waller and  ridden by Josh Parr, More Felons was having his first run back from a break after running fifth in the Geelong Cup and then 12th in the Melbourne Cup.

Stakes placed in the UK last year when placed in the Group III York Silver Cup, More Felons landed his first Black Type win with a thrilling surge along the fence claim victory.

“He’s a lovely horse and did a great job in the spring, albeit without winning the Melbourne Cup,” said Chris Waller.

“He’s had a short turn around from that and has come back really well and it was good to see him finishing off strong that last 100m.”

Advertisement

More Felons has serious Cups potential - image Steve Hart

More Felons has the overall record of five wins and two placings from 16 starts and looks set to make his mark in the feature Australian staying races this year.

More Felons is a half-brother to Group III winner Onenightidreamed and stakes-winner Goolwa from good producing Pivotal mare Pivotalia, whose family bristles with European Group winners.

More Felons is the 18th stakes-winner for Galileo’s champion son Churchill, who has been a regular shuttler to Coolmore Australia for the past six seasons.

Advertisment

Race Result - Parramatta Cup LR 1900m

Rosehill Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:57.84
1
More Felons
- 5g Churchill (IRE) x Pivotalia (IRE) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Parr 57
Churchill
2
0.2
Almania
- 8g Australia (GB) x Sent From Heaven (IRE) (Footstepsinthesand (GB))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Tom Sherry 53.5
3
0.5
Bold Mac
- 6g The Bold One (NZ) x Mrs Mac (NZ) (Colombia (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Prebble 58
4
0.5
Canberra Legend
- 4h Australia (GB) x Rocana (GB) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tyler Schiller 53
5
0.7
Zennzella
- 4m Snitzel (AUS) x Zennista (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy (JPN))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J R Collett 53.5
6
0.8
So United
- 6g So You Think (NZ) x Maglissa (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54.5
7
1.7
Lord Ardmore
- 6g Reliable Man (GB) x Miss Outshine (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Ford 53.5
8
2.1
Manzoice
- 4g Almanzor (FR) x Choice (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56
9
4
Diamil
- 6g Awtaad (IRE) x Diylawa (IRE) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58
10
8
Kalapour
- 7g War Command (USA) x Kaladena (IRE) (Daylami (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: N Rawiller 58.5
11
8.4
Explosive Jack
- 6g Jakkalberry (IRE) x Extra Explosive (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 61
12
8.5
Love Tap
- 6g Tapit (USA) x Smokey's Love (USA) (Forestry (USA))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: Ashley Morgan 54
13
20.2
Entente
- 7g Dundeel (NZ) x Nextess (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
More Reading...
G1 Manikato Next for Alabama Lass
New Zealand sprinter Alabama Lass will press on for a tilt at the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley later this month following her runner-up effort in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at the Melbourne track last Saturday.
Cogburn Sire Not This Time on Fire at Keeneland September
If you have been considering sending a mare to Widden Stud’s exciting new shuttle sire Cogburn (USA) or have already booked one in you are going to be pretty interested in what is going on at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale this week where his sire Not This Time is in hot demand.
$3.3million Gun Runner Colt Tops Keeneland September Day 1
Keeneland’s 2025 September Yearling Sale began Monday with double-digit gains while posting a record average price of $653,208 and selling 15 horses for $1 million or more led by a colt by Gun Runner for $3.3 million to M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm. The average topped the previous record $611,038 for a single session set during Day 2 in 2024, and the number of seven-
Mulberry Racing Purchase $550,000 Colt at Keeneland September
Australian based Mulberry Racing featured on the buyers list during the first session of the Keenland September Yearling Sale purchasing a colt by Quality Road for $550,000.
Tragic News from Milburn Creek – Vale, Secret Admirer
Spring brings so many foaling stories from our studs each year and while the majority have a happy ending, sometimes things sadly don’t go as planned.
MRC Committee Returned Unopposed
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has confirmed the results of the 2025 nominations for the MRC Executive Committee and the Mornington Advisory Group (MAG), which will be formally ratified at the Club’s Annual General Meeting on 25 September.
Vale, Ryan Smith
Victorian breeding farm Kulani Park are mourning the loss of partner and family member Ryan Smith.
Waller Army Leads Cox Plate First Acceptances
Defending champion Via Sistina is among 21 horses champion trainer Chris Waller still has in contention for the $6 million 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, following the closure of first acceptances on Tuesday.
Kiwi Cup Hopeful Headed to Melbourne
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Wolfgang will fly to Melbourne on Wednesday to commence his path towards the A$10 million feature.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 9
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.