Pencarrow graduate Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) added another black-type win to her record with an impressive performance in the $80,000 Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1600m) on Saturday.

Churchillian was bred by Pencarrow and offered in their draft for Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Paul Willetts bought her for $100,000. She has now had 27 starts for 11 wins, a placing and $406,890 in stakes.

The Tauranga Classic was the third win at stakes level for Churchillian, who had previously won the Group Three Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham in January of 2024 and the Group Three Rotorua Stakes (1400m) last month. She has also placed in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m).

Ridden by Samantha Collett, Churchillian adopted her usual front-running tactics in the Tauranga Classic on Saturday and never gave her rivals a look in.

While many others came wide around the home corner in search of better ground, Collett and Churchillian stayed close to the fence. Churchillian produced a mighty kick that carried her well clear, and there was no danger of defeat from there.

Churchillian went on to score by two lengths.

“Tony and his team have done an amazing job to keep her up and keep her happy in what has been a busy prep for her,” Collett said. “She just has that zest for life, which she showed again today. When I asked her for some more gas, she dug really deep.

“When I asked her to kick at the top of the straight, she was off and was always going to find the line.”

Pike is currently overseas and was represented at Tauranga on Saturday by Ryan Stacey.

“She has been going so well, and we’ve just had to keep getting the work into her since her last run,” Stacey said. “She is just so consistent and is holding that form.

“Sam got her out of the gates well, controlled the race and she has brained them.”

Churchillian is by the Galileo stallion Churchill, who himself won the English 2000 Guineas (1600m) before shuttling successfully between Ireland and Australia. He has sired over 440 winners, including 40 at black-type level.

The dam of Churchillian is the Irish-bred Fastnet Rock mare Fond Du Coeur, whose dam is a full-sister to the English, French and Hong Kong Group One winner Pride (Peintre Celebre).

Fond Du Coeur has produced three foals to race. Two of them have been winners, and both of that pair have performed at black-type level. In addition to Churchillian’s 11 wins including three stakes successes, her half-sister Navy Heart (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) has won twice and ran fourth in the Group Three Alexandra Stakes (1600m).