Another Top Showing for American Pharoah at Inglis Easter
The first day of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale saw Triple Crown winner American Pharoah’s first Australian crop light up the board with a trio of yearlings selling for $400,000 or more, including the early session leader.
As has been the common theme with the stallion around the world, American Pharoah led all first season sires by average and aggregate on Tuesday from five sold with those yearlings selling for a combined A$1.51 million and average of A$302,000.
Leading the group was his filly out of Group III winner Tavarnelle, who sold late in the first session for A$460,000 to Belmont Bloodstock as the most expensive offering by a first-season sire.
Consigned by Lime Country Thoroughbreds for Matrix Bloodstock, the filly is a half-sister to Fastnet Rock’s Group III winning Tuscan Queen. Their dam has proven to be a strong producer as the dam of three winners from three to race, following in the footsteps of her dam and granddam – who have both produced stakes horses.
The Easter sale came at perfect time for the filly with Tuscan Queen winning the Group II Western Australian Oaks a week ago, only two weeks after winning a Listed race.
She is the latest successful stakes horse in the family with their third dam producing Singapore Horse of the Year Zirna, who is also the dam of Group II winner Crafty Irna with nine stakes horses on the page overall. Tavarnelle returned to American Pharoah the following year and had a filly in November.
American Pharoah struck early during the Tuesday session when his filly out of Lake Geneva took the became the early leader when bringing A$450,000 from Badgers Bloodstock.
The first foal out of Listed winner and Group I Golden Slipper third Lake Geneva, the filly had plenty of updates over the last few weeks, including two horses placing at the stakes level in the last month.
Consigned by Coolmore Australia, the filly’s accomplished dam is also a full sister to Group 3 winner Ennis Hill and Group 3-placed Memphis Rock, out of Group 2 winner Hips Don’t Lie.
A little over 100 hips later, American Pharoah’s Lot 131 headed to Hawkes Racing for A$400,000. Offered by Widden Stud, the colt is out of Phantom Queen - a half-sister to Group I winner Sweet Idea, Group II winner Showtime, and Listed winner Rush. A half-brother to two winners from three to race, his third dam is two-time Group I winner Electronic.
The Bangaloe Stud-bred colt joins Marcher, Hawkes Racing’s $750,000 American Pharoah colt they purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January. Phantom Queen returned to American Pharoah last season.
The U.S. Champion Freshman Sire last year, American Pharoah’s first Southern Hemisphere foals hit the track later this year.