Pharoah Sires Second Consecutive G1 Victoria Derby Winner

For the second straight year, American Pharoah was the sire of Australia’s Group I Victoria Derby winner when Goldrush Guru (3c American Pharoah x Glam Guru, by Medaglia D'Oro) took the honors.

Stretching out to just over 1 ½ miles in the Derby after winning the Hill Smith Stakes going 1 1/8 miles, jockey Jamie Kah showed plenty of patience to keep her colt from hitting the front too soon. He was sent to the lead with a quarter left to run and showed he has plenty of stamina when he won by 1 ½ lengths in the end.

“Couldn't hold him early,” Kah said. “I was going to be wide and somehow found a little gap to slot into. Once I found the gap, he just fell asleep and gave me a beautiful run throughout. He won it a long way out and I could have stopped him for another lap, but he wanted to keep going. They've trained this horse to perfection.”

Trained by Andrew Gluyas as a homebred for the Guru Breeding Syndicate, he is a four-time winner with three other placing in his eight starts as well.

Hailing from the family of Champion 3YO Colt and Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Gold Guru, he is the first foal out of Medaglia d’Oro’s Group II-placed Glam Guru. That mare is a half-sister to Group III winner Gamblin Guru.

Glam Guru is in foal to St Mark’s Basilica for this season.

American Pharoah’s late Riff Rocket won this race last year on his way to earning Champion Australian 3YO honors in 2023/2024.