The Japanese market is an important one for an international sire and Coolmore’s Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (USA) has made his presence felt in that jurisdiction with an impressive six winners from seven starters including his exciting new stakes-winner Café Pharoah, whose pedigree is an interesting one for Aussie breeders.
Café Pharoah joined the Kentucky Derby trail on Sunday when winning the Listed Hyacinth Stakes (1600m) at Tokyo to become American Pharoah’s second Japanese winner in two days.
Cafe Pharoah was more than happy to race at the tail of the field before powering home.
Jockey Mirco Demuro’s decision to keep his mount wide and out of trouble paid off as they entered the stretch with Cafe Pharoah looming into contention. The colt’s big stride saw him challenging the leaders in the final furlong before racing away to win with his ears pricked by 1 ¼ lengths to earn 30 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Trained by Noriyuki Hori for Koichi Nishikawa, Cafe Pharoah is undefeated in his two career starts after breaking his maiden by 10 lengths in December.
The U.S.-bred was purchased by Narvick International for $475,000 from Eddie Woods at the OBS March 2-Year-Old Sale last year after being bred by Paul Pompa Jr.
A half-brother to US Group winners Regal Glory and Night Prowler, Café Pharoah is the sixth stakes-winner for his sire and is from good producing Group II winner Mary’s Follies, a daughter of champion sire More than Ready.
Australian breeders will find it interesting that American Pharoah has now had two runners from daughters of More than Ready with both being stakes-winners, the other being Group II Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive.
The first Southern Hemisphere bred progeny of American Pharoah have enjoyed huge popularity at the Australasian sales this year and he has been the leading first season sire by average at Magic Millions, Karaka and at Inglis Classic with the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale next on the agenda.
Click here to see his draft for Inglis Premier.
