Debut Winner for American Pharoah

Leading New Zealand trainers Andrew Forsman and Murray Baker produced a promising winner on Wednesday with three year-old filly Lady Koval (3f American Pharoah x To Please a Lady, by Fasliyev) opening her account with a debut victory at Cambridge.

She led all the way to score a tenacious nose win over 1300m on the polytrack and Forsman is keen to see the filly step out on turf.

“She has really matured as a three-year-old. We didn’t do too much with her as a two-year-old knowing she was still quite a big immature horse,” he said.

“She seems to be handling things really well now and it is probably time to press the button and put a bit of pressure on her and see where she gets to. It was nice to make a winning start, obviously it was not easy going 1300m first time.

“She was up against older horses and when you have to do it start to finish she was very brave and will only get better with race experience under her belt.

“Where we head to this prep I’m not sure, we will just take it race by race. If she could get to the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), that would be great, she does seem to have a bit of speed.

“I think she should run a mile this preparation and we will learn more with her as we race her. Hopefully next time we can get her out on a grass track.”

A $250,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Tooloogan Vale Farm draft for Andrew Forsman, Lady Koval runs for Zame Partnership, who also share in the ownership of stable star Aegon.

Lady Koval is the eighth winner from nine foals to race from To Please a Lady, a winning half-sister to Group I placed Picholine, the dam of dual Derby winner Rebel Raider, Group III winner Shamoline Warrior and stakes-winner Cadillac Mountain.

American Pharoah has been making news this week in North America having sired the top priced filly at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with $1.4million paid for the half-sister to Group I winners Echo Zulu and Echo Town from Letgomyecho.