Triple Crown champion American Pharoah got off to a perfect start as a Coolmore sire with his very first runner, Monarch of Egypt, surging clear at Naas on Saturday. Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, the odds-on favorite stamped himself as a Royal Ascot prospect.
Monarch of Egypt is bred to go much farther than this five-furlong trip, with his dam, the Galileo mare Up, having scored her signature win over 1 1/4 miles in the 2012 Blandford (G2). Up is a half-sister to the speedy and precocious Dutch Art, hero of the 2006 Prix Morny (G1) and Middle Park (G1), so there was some genetic potential for her to express those qualities she didn’t have herself.
A $750,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Peter Brant and Coolmore, Monarch of Egypt must have been showing all the right signs on the Ballydoyle gallops to earn odds-on favoritism. He wasn’t quickest out of the gate, but showed plenty of speed to vie for the lead, and drew off with a sudden burst to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths. His final time of 1:01.77 was influenced by the good-to-yielding ground.
Monarch of Egypt topped the all-Coolmore sire exacta over Ming Warrior, a son of No Nay Never. Finishing third was the filly In the Present, by freshman Karakontie.
Monarch Of Egypt under Ryan Moore ensures American Pharoah begins his career as a sire with a winner! pic.twitter.com/HXYTWljUwy
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 13, 2019
Aidan O’Brien says he has a few more American Pharoahs up his sleeve to run in due course after Monarch Of Egypt gets the Triple Crown winner off to a winning start as a stallion – Royal Ascot likely next pic.twitter.com/DD3oUH9blg
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 13, 2019
Having gotten off the mark in Europe, American Pharoah awaits his first U.S. runners next week. Trainer Wesley Ward has entered Tesorina (out of Grade 1 winner Nonsuch Bay) and Lady Delaware (half to 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf [G1] victor Hootenanny) in the 1ST race at Aqueduct on Wednesday.
Why did he cost $750,000 when Coolmore own the mare as well?
Up had been sold for $2.2 million at the 2015 Keeneland January Sale to Ran Jan Racing, the breeder of Monarch of Egypt.