With a win in the Listed VRC TAB Trophy last spring and last start runner-up in the Group 1 South Australian Derby, Warmonger presented as a promising young stayer, but nothing could prepare for his virtuoso performance in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.

Due back in Australia this spring for Coolmore, Churchill added a new stakes-winner to his tally in North America on Friday when Frankie Dettori partnered Poolside with Slim (3f Churchill x Kissepal, by Epaulette) to victory in the Listed $150,000 Penn Oaks (1m) on the grass at Penn National.