Trainer Tony Pike admitted he had a real sense of satisfaction as he watched progressive mare Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) return to winning form at Taupo on Friday at just her third run back from a substantial lay-off due to a hock injury she suffered late last year.
It took a month for vets to determine she had suffered torn ligaments in a hock and needed a lengthy spell to recover from the mishap.
Two quiet trials in August preceded a useful first-up run for seventh at Ellerslie in early September, however a tough run where she had to sit three and four wide at the same venue a fortnight later undid a lot of that early progress.
The daughter of Churchill went into Friday’s open 1300m contest at Taupo with plenty of pep back in her step which saw her lead from barrier rise in the hands of new rider Sam Collet to destroy a handy field by just on two lengths and put herself back into contention for a trip to the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton next month.
“That was very satisfying as she had been off the scene for such a long time and she really looked back to somewhere near her best on Friday,” Pike said.
“She is a lot stronger this time in after the lay-off and went a terrific race first up when she carried plenty of weight and battled on well.
“The next run at Ellerslie was a disaster of a ride as she was three and four deep most of the way and naturally had nothing left in the run home that day.
“We freshened her up and I was looking to see her get back to her normal pattern which is up on the speed and rolling as she can be very effective when she gets terms to suit like that.
“Sam had her away nicely and when she shot clear on the turn I thought she would be hard to pull back if her fitness held up and thankfully she was still going pretty strongly at the line.”
Pike will now have a chat with the mare’s connections regarding plans for an assault on the Riccarton carnival where she holds a nomination for the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m).
“I’ll have a chat with her team next week about what we might do next but I’m keen to have a crack at the Canterbury Breeders’ Sakes (Gr.3, 1400m) on the first day at Riccarton (8 November) and if she went well we might back up in the TAB mile,” he said.
“If we take that path she may only have a trial at Taupo (28 October) or an exhibition gallop before we head down there.
“The Breeders’ Stakes suits her nicely as she will get in on a nice weight and it is a race I have had in mind for her if she was going well enough.”