CHURCHILL was given a name that would take some living up to, and his victory last weekend in the 2000 Guineas shows that it was a good choice. The son of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and stakes winner Meow, by Storm Cat (Storm Bird), is the latest Group 1 winner to emerge from a pedigree that has humble roots.

The third dam of Churchill was the Indian Ridge (Ahonoora) mare Kangra Valley, a daughter of the winning Tina’s Pet (Mummy’s Pet) mare Thorner Lane and one of eight winners, representing all of her progeny, produced by her. Runner-up on her debut, Kangra Valley won over five furlongs at Thirsk on her second outing in what was to prove to be the highlight of her 16-race career. Indeed she was only placed once more and made all but one of her starts over the minimum trip. Given her breeding this was not surprising as she was closely related to another speedster in Clantime.