American Pharoah's First Runner to be Unveiled at Naas

Monarch of Egypt will become the first runner sired by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah  when the 2-year-old lines up for Aidan O'Brien in the opening contest of Naas's April 13 card, the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF race.

The late-March foal will be ridden by Ryan Moore and will run in the two-tone green silks of Peter Brant, who owns the colt with the Coolmore partners after his White Birch Farm and M.V. Magnier went to $750,000 to purchase the youngster at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

American Pharoah, a son of the late Pioneerof The Nile , may have done all of his racing on dirt, but the female side of Monarch of Egypt's pedigree is packed full of talented turf runners.

He is the third foal out of Up, a daughter of Galileo and the Spectrum mare Halland Park Lass who won the Irresistible Jewel Blandford Stakes (G2) at 3 and finished runner-up to Beauty Parlour in the French One Thousand Guineas (G1).

Despite the success of Monarch of Egypt's parents during their classic seasons, there also appears to be plenty of precocity in his pedigree. It should not be overlooked that American Pharoah was a dual grade 1 winner at 2, claiming the FrontRunner Stakes (G1) and the Del Mar Futurity (G1), while Up is a half sister to Shadwell Middle Park Stakes (G1) and Darley Prix Morny (G1) victor Dutch Art.

Monarch of Egypt was bred by Ran Jan Racing, which enjoyed extraordinary success as a breeder in Europe last year with champion 3-year-old Roaring Lion. Up was added to the Ran Jan broodmare band when she was bought in partnership with Jan Vandebos for $2.2 million at Keeneland in January 2015.

The colt is not the only progeny of American Pharoah housed at Ballydoyle, with Weatherbys' records indicating that the Triple Crown winner has four 2-year-olds under the care of O'Brien. The others are: Hong Kong, a half brother to Caravaggio bought for $1 million; South Saqqara, a $300,000 half brother to Queen Mary Stakes (G2) winner Acapulco; and an unnamed half brother to Chachamaidee and J Wonder.

That list does not include the filly out of Shawara, whom Magnier indicated was likely to head to Ballydoyle having secured her for €750,000 (US$857,850) at last year's Arqana August Yearling Sale. After signing that six-figure docket, Magnier said Coolmore had a long-held belief that American Pharoah's progeny could prove successful on turf.

"My grandfather founded Ballydoyle on American dirt horses—that's where Galileo comes from, that's where Sadler's Wells came from," he said. "It all goes back to the American classic horse, and we strongly believe in American Pharoah. He really could be the next big thing.

"Be it him or Justify , we think that a horse of that type can once again have a transforming impact on European bloodlines. So that's what we want to do: to get the best American Pharoahs we can, put them in Ballydoyle, and try to make him a new Northern Dancer. Remember, Scat Daddy was an all-American hero, too, and look what he has been able to do on turf in Europe."

Those who follow the line of thought that Coolmore reserves the strongest names for their brightest prospects will be interested to note that Monarch of Egypt had previously been given the moniker Horus Bird.

Other progeny of American Pharoah with European trainers, according to Weatherbys, include the John Gosden-trained Good Fortune, a half brother to Giovanni Boldini bought by Qatar Racing for $800,000, and Charlie Appleby has taken charge of the colts out of Joyful Victory and Kindle—the latter named the most expensive American Pharoah yearling to sell at public auction, costing Godolphin $2.2 million.