Intriguing pedigrees at Newbury on Friday as Churchill set for first runner

The battle for first-season sire honours is about to hot up as Churchill is set to be represented by his first runner at Newbury on Friday.

A dual Guineas winner and champion European two-year-old, Churchill is expected to produce his fair share of high-class juveniles and among his 145 first-crop representatives this term is Sir Randolph, who will debut in the five-furlong maiden contest at Newbury (1.10).

A £22,000 purchase from the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, the colt was bred by Mrs CR Philipson and is out of the dual-winning Nayef mare Esteemable, a half-sister to the Listed-winning Tinshu and the stakes-placed Montpellier.

The imposing Churchill - who stands at Coolmore for a fee of €30,000 this year - is out of the Listed-winning Queen Mary second Meow, a daughter of Storm Cat, and is a brother to Cheveley Park heroine Clemmie and Group 3 winner Blenheim Palace.

Among his eight rivals is the Charlie Hills-trained Poderoso, a Kodiac half-brother to the Listed-winning Royal Commando and a full-sibling to last term's July and Richmond Stakes second Yazaman. A 225,000gns purchase by Alex Elliott from Tattersalls Book 1, he was bred by Mountarmstrong Stud.

The once-raced Darlectable You, a full-sister to European champion Too Darn Hot and Group winners So Mi Dar and Lah Ti Dar, faces ten rivals in the first division of the mile and a quarter fillies' maiden (4.00).

Crystal Starlet is out of a Listed-winning Dubawi half-sister to Crystal OceanCredit: Edward Whitaker

Among them is Sir Michael Stoute and Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's Crystal Starlet, by Frankel and out of Crystal Zvezda - a Listed-winning Dubawi half-sister to world champion Crystal Ocean, Canadian International winner Hillstar and multiple Group scorer Crystal Capella.

Roger Charlton and Lady Bamford team up with Dolphin, a Sea The Stars half-sister to Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes heroine Thistle Bird and the Australian Group 1-placed McCreery. Mellow Magic, a Nathaniel half-sister to Racing Post Trophy hero Elm Park, represents Andrew Balding and Kingsclere Racing Club.

Among the ten runners for the second division (4.35) is Sea Karats, a full-sister to last season's Bahrain Trophy Stakes winner Al Aasy and a 500,000gns purchase from the Castlebridge Consignment to Mandore International Agency at Tattersalls Book 1.

Credit: Goffs UK

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