Group One Winner Van Gogh to Stand in Japan
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Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post
Van Gogh breaks his maiden at the Curragh
Van Gogh , the group 1-winning son of American Pharoah , has been retired from racing and is due to begin his stallion career in Japan in 2022, East Stud in Hokkaido has announced.
Owned by the Coolmore partners, the 3-year-old colt has performed with distinction in two seasons of racing with trainer Aidan O'Brien, most notably winning the Criterium International (G1) on his final start at 2.
He was placed in group company on three further occasions during his juvenile campaign, finishing runner-up in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) and Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes (G3), both at Leopardstown. He was also second to the grade-1 placed One Ruler in the Emirates Autumn Stakes (G3) at Newmarket Racecourse.
As a 3-year-old, Van Gogh made 4 starts, including a third-place showing to Mac Swiney in the Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) at the Curragh this past spring.
Unplaced in his final two starts when stretching out over a route of ground in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1) and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1), Van Gogh retires with a record of 2-3-1 from 11 starts and earnings of US$223,890.
Bred by Barronstown Stud, the 3-year-old holds an illustrious pedigree, being the 12th foal out of the Entenmanns Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Vodafone Epsom Oaks (G1)-winning Imagine , a daughter of Sadler's Wells and Doff the Derby.
This breeding means Van Gogh is a half brother to the ill-fated Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (G1) victor Horatio Nelson, the multiple group 1-placed Red Rock Canyon , Meydan group 2 winner and top-level placed Viscount Nelson , and U.S. grade 3 scorer Point Piper .
The colt provided American Pharoah with his first top-flight European scorer, with the Ashford Stud-based sire also responsible for elite winners Cafe Pharoah , who struck in Japan's February Stakes (G1), and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Dixiana (G1T) heroine Harvey's Lil Goil .
The U.S. Triple Crown winner stood the 2021 breeding season for a fee of $100,000 and is responsible for 35 stakes performers, including 10 individual group/graded winners.
Among the 9-year-old's other European stakes scorers include last year's Bet365 Park Hill Stakes (G2) victress Pista , Connolly's Redmills Prix du Bois (G3) winner Maven , and this season's Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Naas Oaks Trial winner Willow .
According to a post on East Stud's website, Van Gogh is due to be syndicated between 60 shareholders, while a stud fee will be announced in due course.