The second Northern Hemisphere crop of Triple Crown hero American Pharoah are up and running with two smart winners in the past two days in North America and a Group place-getter in Ireland.
First to salute was promising filly American Grace, who scored a two and a half length debut win on dirt at Ellis Park on Friday.
A homebred for Russell Welch, the Larry Jones trainee started favourite and looks well placed to progress further.
A half-sister to stakes-placed Warrior’s Kid, American Grace is the fourth winner from four foals out of four-time stakes winning mare Warrior Maid.
American Monarch (kept the winning run going becoming the fifth juvenile winner for his sire this year with a victory at Saratoga.
Racing on turf for trainer Bill Mott, the Mike Rutherford homebred handled the 1 1/16 miles in fine style to win by half a length.
American Monarch is the first foal out of Giant’s Causeway’s Group II placed Front Range, a daughter of four-time Group I winner Lakeway.
In Ireland, the Aidan O’Brien trained colt Van Gogh finished second beaten a neck at just his second start in the Group III Tyros Stakes (7f) at Leopardstown .
He hit the line hard and looks well placed to be winning at this level over a mile sooner rather than later.
The first Australian bred American Pharoah progeny are now two year-olds set to race here in the new season.
American Pharoah is back at Coolmore Australia again this spring at a fee of $55,000.
