More International Success for American Pharoah

Flying the flag for American Pharoah in Japan with great success has been Café Pharoah (3c American Pharoah x Mary’s Follies, by More Than Ready), who added a third stakes win to his resume on Saturday with a victory in the Group III Sirius Stakes at Chukyo.

Facing his elders in the 1 3/16 mile dirt race, Café Pharoah enjoyed a run in midpack as the leader opened up multiple lengths on the field. It wasn’t until the stretch that Café Pharoah did his best running, chasing down a new frontrunner and easily pulling away to win by three quarters of a length.

Racing for Koichi Nishikawa, the Noriyuki Hori-trainee was winning his second group race after a victory in the Group III Unicorn Stakes in June. In all, the colt has now won four of his five lifetime starts.

Bred by Paul Pompa, Café Pharoah was a $475,000 purchase at last year’s OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training and is a half-brother to graded stakes winners Regal Glory and Night Prowler out of More Than Ready’s Grade II winner Mary’s Follies.

Interestingly for Australian breeders, American Pharoah bred to More Than Ready mares has produced two stakes winners from three runners, led by his Grade II Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint victor Four Wheel Drive.

Café Pharoah was one of two stakes horses for American Pharoah early in the day on Saturday with Group II winner Pista running a good second in the Group I Qatar Prix de Royallieu in France a few hours later.

The first Australian bred progeny for American Pharoah are new season two year-olds.