Pharoah Owners Basking In Irish Glory

When Old Glory (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) ran out an eye-catching winner in a 'TDN Rising Star' performance on debut at Naas on Wednesday evening, he got Zayat Stables–of American Pharoah fame–off to a perfect start in Ireland.

“That was our first runner ever in Ireland, so to have him be a winner in our silks was very exciting,” said Justin Zayat, president and chief executive officer of racing and bloodstock for the stable founded by his father, Ahmed Zayat.

Zayat Stables races the 2-year-old colt in conjunction with the Coolmore partners, with whom they bought him via agent Justin Casse for a sale-topping €1.6-million at last year's Goffs Orby sale. For the Zayats, buying at a European auction wasn't new; they've already had success buying European yearlings and exporting them to the States, with flagbearers of that venture including dual stakes winner and Royal Ascot runner Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), a €410,000 buy at Arqana August; two-time winner and stakes performer Desert Stone (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who cost 280,000gns at Tattersalls October; and maiden winner and Grade III-placed Irish Territory (Ire) (Declaration of War), a €475,000 Orby purchase. But this was the first time they'd left one in training in Europe.

“We're very, very happy with how the horses we've purchased in Europe have been performing,” Zayat said. “This Frankel colt was the sale topper at Orby last year and we partnered on the horse with Coolmore and decided to keep this horse in Ireland at Ballydoyle with Aidan O'Brien.”

“We've looked to start expanding globally slowly. This colt is out of a Xaar mare, and Gidu happens to be out of an Unbridled's Song mare, so he had more of an American pedigree. This one has more of a European pedigree. When they wanted to keep him in Ireland we weren't objecting to it at all. It's an experiment for us and we're very excited about it.”

Zayat said Wednesday's win was a bit of a pleasant surprise.

“We thought he'd run a good race but we didn't really expect him to win,” he explained. “We thought if he finished in the top three, we'd be very happy. I know in America, a first-time starter going seven furlongs is a tricky distance, so I was cautiously optimistic about the race, but he really ran impressively. Donnacha [O'Brien] gave him a great ride and was really happy with him. I spoke with Aidan [on Thursday], who was also pretty impressed. We'll think about the [G1] Racing Post Trophy [on Oct. 27] or the Group 3 at Leopardstown [Killavullan S. on Oct. 20]. We'll know in about seven to 10 days.”

“What was really impressive about the colt was that that was his first time on turf,” Zayat added. “He trains on dirt at Ballydoyle. For him to travel and go on turf, we feel there's a lot of improvement left in him. Knock on wood, he came out in good shape and for Zayat Stables to have a son of Frankel with Aidan O'Brien, it's extremely exciting for us.”

Zayat said the upcoming yearling sales in Ireland and England would be on his radar.

“We try to keep our eyes on all the sales obviously around America, but now the yearling sales in Europe as well,” he said. “I'm not exactly sure what our plan is yet, but we'll keep our eye on probably being active.”

Zayat Stables has campaigned Grade I winners like Bodemeister (Empire Maker), Eskendereya (Giant's Causeway), Paynter (Awesome Again) and Pioneerof the Nile, but it is of course best known for the latter's Triple Crown-winning son American Pharoah. American Pharoah's first-crop yearlings have been selling this fall, and Coolmore, which stands the horse, are outspoken in the fact that they are backing him to be an outstanding turf as well as a dirt sire. Zayat said he echoed that sentiment.

“Coolmore feel that a lot of them will be able to run on grass, and I don't disagree because Pioneerof the Nile broke his maiden on the grass,” he said. “I wouldn't have been surprised if American Pharoah could have run on the grass, especially being out of a Yankee Gentleman mare. I believe good horses can run on anything so I definitely think they'll be able to.”

American Pharoah's first Southern Hemisphere crop are currently hitting the ground Down Under, and Zayat said the stable is considering expanding that direction as well.

“One-hundred percent,” he said when asked if it was something they were thinking about. “I went there on my honeymoon and I got to visit Gai Waterhouse's stable out there with Adrian Bott. I spent a whole morning at Randwick and watched the horses train. It's definitely something that's going to be on our radar.”

While international growth seems likely for Zayat Stables, for today, at least, they can bask in the enjoyment of a perfect start in Ireland and the excitement of a potential star.