Winning Double for American Pharoah
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah had two runners on Tuesday and both were winners with three year-old geldings Armed (3g american Pharoah x Tornado Miss, by Snitzel) and Mighty Willie (3g American Pharoah x Wind Bender, by Redoute's Choice) both saluting at Kilmore.
Prepared by Danny O’Brien, Armed was having his second run back from a spell and improved on his first up third placing to race away and win the 1200m maiden by nearly two lengths.
A $130,000 Inglis Easter Round 2 purchase for A List stud from the Highgrove Stud draft, Armed is the second winner from Group II placed Snitzel mare Tornado Miss.
Following up in the next event to make it a race to race double for American Pharoah was the Chris Waller trained Mighty Willie, who was witched to the Victorian stable for his second start following a last placing at Newcastle on debut last month when he pulled up lame.
Easy in the market, Mighty Willie found the 1600m maiden to his liking and surged home along the inside for Craig Williams to win by half a length over the race favourites.
Mighty Willie was bred and retained to race by Hermitage Thoroughbreds and is the second winner from Wind Bender, a metro winning daughter of Group I SA Oaks winner Dowry.
American Pharoah has a dozen yearlings to be offered this week at Magic Millions.