American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile–Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman), the 2015 American Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year, will shuttle to Coolmore Australia later this year for the 2017 Southern Hemisphere breeding season, where he will stand for A$66,000 (US$50,509). American Pharoah is currently standing his second season at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
“We have been overwhelmed by interest from Australasian breeders in American Pharoah ever since he retired to stud in Kentucky,” said Coolmore Australia's Tom Magnier. “It's well recognised that he is a once-in-a-lifetime horse and the opportunity to bring him to Australia is an irresistible one.”
In addition to his Classic form American Pharoah excelled as a juvenile. Racing as a homebred for Zayat Stables and trainer Bob Baffert, he broke his maiden at second asking in the 1400-metre GI Del Mar Futurity and added the GI FrontRunner S. three weeks later. He was named Eclipse champion 2-year-old and would go on to win six of seven starts at three. American Pharoah became the first horse in 37 years–and just the 12th horse ever–to sweep the U.S. Triple Crown of the Grade I Kentucky Derby, Preakness S. and Belmont S., and he followed that with a facile win in the GI Haskell Invitational.
He endured the lone loss of his campaign when a 3/4-length second in the GI Travers S. three weeks after the Haskell, but bounced back to cap his career with a 6 1/2-length tour-de-force over elders in the $6-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic. American Pharoah was retired sound after the Breeders' Cup with nine wins from 11 starts–including eight Grade Is by a combined margins of 38 lengths–and earnings of $8,650,300.
“I was at Belmont Park the day he won the third leg of the Triple Crown and I can honestly say I have never seen a racehorse like him in my life,” said Magnier. “He is a faultless physical specimen and free of Danehill blood, so is a perfect complement to our own band of Fastnet Rock and Danehill mares. We will be supporting him with our own quality mares and we have already had a number of top breeders approach us with the intention of supporting him heavily.”
American Pharoah has additionally been well-supported by breeders in the U.S., his first book last year including 47 Grade I winners or producers.
“He excelled in everything he was ever asked to do,” Magnier added. “He won a Grade I over 1400 metres on his second start and was nothing short of a phenomenon from that point onwards. I couldn't be more excited at the prospect of offering him to Australian breeders and can't wait for people to have the opportunity to see him in the spring.”
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