Churchill 2YO Wins Listed Phoenix Stakes

Tara Madgwick - Saturday June 8

Champion trainer Chris Waller and astute bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster have a happy knack for finding value at Karaka and a Churchill (IRE) colt they purchased from Book 1 last year for $170,000 opened his account at Eagle Farm on Saturday winning the Listed BRC Phoenix Stakes (1500m) at just his third start.

Imperialist (outer) wins the Listed The Phoenix (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday in impressive fashion. Photo: Grant Peters

Eighth and fourth at his first two metro starts in Sydney, Imperialist did enough to earn a trip north and given a cool ride by James McDonald he hit the line hard to power past race favourite Aemelius to win by half a length.

“He’s a nice progressive horse and he did a good job out there today. It’s nice to win in these colours again,” James McDonald said.

“He sprang into life out of the stalls but he’s still pretty new and he did a few things wrong, but he’ll be right.”

Imperialist has all the makings of a very nice three year-old for next season.

“James did a great job with him weaving a path through and settling him in the first part of the race, shutting him down so he could do the rest in the second half,” said Chris Waller, who will give consideration to starting Imperialist in the Group I BRC JJ Atkins (1600m) next Saturday.

Advertisement

“He’s a two year-old with a bright future.”

Imperialist was a $170,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase.

Consigned by Curraghmore, Imperalist runs for a big group of stable clients and carries the colours of Noel Greenhalgh.

Bred  by Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham in conjunction with Demi O’Byrne’s Arkle Bloodstock, Imperialist is the first winner for Dancing Hare, a three time winning Fastnet Rock mare from a top class European female family with her third dam the noted blue hen Solo de Lune, the dam of 11 winners highlighted by Group I winners Cerulaean Sky and Moonstone.

Dancing Hare produced a filly by Satono Aladdin (Jpn) last year and was then covered by Ocean Park.

Imperialist is the 25th stakes-winner for Churchill (IRE), who returns to Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $19,800, and is his second from a daughter of Fastnet Rock.

Advertisment

Race Result - Nova 106.9 The Phoenix LR 1500m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:30.77
1
Imperialist
- 2c Churchill (IRE) x Dancing Hare (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
Churchill
2
0.6
Aemelius
- 2f Hellbent (AUS) x Mead (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Jamie Kah 55
Hellbent
3
1.2
Miss Trustful
- 2f Dubious (AUS) x Rambla De Flores (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ryan Maloney 55
MM Gold Coast March Yearling Sale $30,000
Seller: Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld (As Agent)
Buyer: Bryan Guy/Jayson Pate
4
2.2
Beau Dazzler
- 2c Ardrossan (AUS) x Pwerfect (AUS) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Tony & Maddysen Sears Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 57
5
2.4
Canara
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Karavali (NZ) (Nadeem (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
6
2.8
Simply Fun
- 2g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Harbour Fun (AUS) (Harbour Watch (IRE))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Cejay Graham 57
7
2.9
Blantons Run
- 2f Rothesay (AUS) x Isadiva (AUS) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: Rochelle Pereira Rdr: S T Collett 55
8
3.9
Safe Place
- 2c Castelvecchio (AUS) x Lilyfield (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: A Hyeronimus 57
9
4.2
Due Calzini
- 2g D'argento (AUS) x Terminally Pretty (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Danielle Seib Rdr: James Orman 57
10
4.4
Italian Dancer
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Italia Bella (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S W Kendrick Rdr: Ms N Beriman 57
11
5.8
La Cometa
- 2f El Roca (AUS) x Itsy Bitsy (NZ) (Ocean Park (NZ))
Tnr: S A Dwyer Rdr: M Rodd 56
12
6.4
Pee Bee Noir
- 2f Churchill (IRE) x Readyforcatherine (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: P & W Hulbert Rdr: M R Du Plessis 55
13
10.3
Enidzel
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Almandine (JPN) (Stay Gold (JPN))
Tnr: S W Kendrick Rdr: Jake Bayliss 57
14
10.5
Pulpit
- 2f Microphone (AUS) x Sarah's Holy Belle (USA) (El Corredor (USA))
Tnr: B J Lockwood Rdr: Martin Harley 55
More Reading...
Too Darn Hot nomination realises $255,000 in August (Late) Sale
A nomination in exceptional young stallion Too Darn Hot has topped today’s Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale, selling for $255,000.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
Wootton Bassett Colt Salutes at Sandown
Overdue for a win, talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Yamashita’s Gold shook off maiden status with a determined victory at Sandown on Wednesday for the Gavid Bedggood stable.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Kiwi Bred Quinella G3 Rough Habit
The Queensland Winter Carnival is proving to be a happy hunting ground for Imperialist, who collected his second Brisbane black-type prize in Saturday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 HKJC World Pool Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben.
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?