Currently in Australia covering his fourth book of mares to Southern Hemisphere time, Triple Crown hero American Pharoah hit another major milestone last week when his Group I-winning 2-year-old son Van Gogh (2c American Pharoah x Imagine, by Sadler’s Wells) was named Europe’s Cartier Champion 2-Year-Old Colt.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore partners and Diane Nagle, the Barronstown Stud-bred proved to be a consistent top-level performer from the start.
Entered in a group race in just his second outing, he finished second by just a neck to experienced stablemate Military Style in the Group III Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes.
From there, Van Gogh would race almost exclusively in Group competition with seconds in both the Group II KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes and Group III Emirates Autumn Stakes.
The colt’s crowning moment, however, came when he won by an easy four lengths in the Group I Criterium International to become his sire’s second Group I winner in two weeks after Harvey’s Lil Goil.
In all, the colt finished first or second five of seven times in 2020.
Van Gogh is the second-to-last foal out of dual classic winner and blue hen Imagine, who has had 10 winners from 11 to race.
In addition to her newly crowned champion, she is also the dam of Group I winner Horatio Nelson, Group II winners Viscount Nelson and Kitty Matcham, and Group III winner Point Piper along with Group I-placed Red Rock Canyon.
The mare’s final foal is a full-sister to Van Gogh.
A Triple Crown winner and US Horse of the Year, American Pharoah has impressed from the start as a sire.
Named Champion Freshman Sire in 2019, he leads all North American second crop sires in nearly every category with two Grade I winners, six graded stakes winner, 10 stakes winners, six graded stakes winners, and 14 stakes horses – including 11 at the graded stakes level.
His oldest Australian progeny are two year-olds.
