Australian Stakes Winner for Pharoah

It was an Australian stakes winner for American Pharoah on Saturday when Riff Rocket (3g American Pharoah x Missile Coda, by Smart Missile) won the Listed Super Impose Stakes.

Racing over 1 1/8 miles on the Flemington turf, the gelding was just behind the leader on the rail coming into the straight before striking. He slipped through a hole with just over a furlong left to run and quickly made easy work of the race with a 5 ½ length victory.

Trained by Chris Waller for owner-breeder Woppitt Bloodstock, the gelding is now eying the Group I Victoria Derby.

Riff Rocket is out of the stakes-placed Missile Coda, who is one of three winners from three to race out of Rain Melody. That mare is a half-sister to the stakes winning Walk Alone.

American Pharoah is the sire of 74 worldwide stakes winners with that group including 39 stakes winners and 22 graded stakes winners, led by seven Grade I winners.