Third Australian Winner for American Pharoah

Triple Crown hero American Pharoah posted his third Australian winner on Thursday evening at Pakenham with a brilliant debut winner from the Team Hawkes stable in Patton (2c American Pharoah x Tsaritsa, by Dane Shadow).

Patton was a well backed favourite and with champion jockey Craig Williams to ride and barrier one, he enjoyed all the favours and delivered the goods.

He jumped fairly and held the rail to travel in fourth place just behind the leaders and when urged to take an inside run on straightening for home, he lengthened stride impressively to win by a length and a quarter.

A $675,000 Magic Millions purchase for Spendthrift Australia from the Attunga Stud draft, Patton was bred by Grand Park View Stud and is the first foal of Group II winner Tsaritsa, a three-quarter sister by Dane Shadow to Group II winner Ninth Legion from the family of Group I winner Tell a Tale.

Patton is the third Australian winner for American Pharoah, who is the sire of 14 stakes-winners in the Northern Hemisphere, three of them Group I winners.

American Pharoah has 25 entries catalogued for Inglis Easter.