G3 Winner Head of State Gives Pharoah Another Milestone Moment
American Pharoah hit a new milestone on Saturday when Head of State (3c American Pharoah x Derelique, by Danehill Dancer) won the Group III Gloaming Stakes to become his sire’s first Australian stakes winner.
Racing over 1 1/8 miles on the Rosehill turf, Head of State raced calmly with James McDonald aboard as they settled in the back of the field. When the field crossed into the final two furlongs, Head of State slid through a hole and had clear track in front of him to chase down the leader.
The 3-year-old gained with every stride to confront that runner in the final furlong and take over in the final sixteenth. The Chris Waller trainee crossed the line a neck in front of the runner up with the rest of the field nearly four lengths behind.
“I was fortunate enough to meet American Pharoah and what an amazing horse he was. I also met Bob Baffert at the same time, the three of us and it’s something I will remember all of my life,” Waller said. “I’ve said to my owners just stick with American Pharoah, he’s the real deal they just need a bit of time. From their two year-old year to three year-old year things can change a lot.”
Head Of State now has plans to send the colt to the Group I Spring Champion Stakes over 1 ¼ miles in two weeks.
An A$850,000 yearling at the 2020 Magic Millions draft when offered by Tom Magnier, Head of State was bred by Brad Crismale.
Head of State’s Danehill Dancer dam Derelique has been a frequent visitor to Ashford stallions when they shuttle to Australia. She is also the dam of Uncle Mo’s multiple Group winner Man From Uncle and three other runners by the stallion as well. In all, Derelique has four winners from six to race with two stakes winners.
The family also includes multiple Group II winner Shania Dane and stakes wins Scintillation and Risk Aversion as half-siblings to Head of State’s granddam. Others under his third dam include Group I winner Summer Passage, and So You Think’s multiple stakes winner and Group III-placed Northwest Passage.
Derelique has a 2-year-old full sister to Head of State named Liberty State, who is still owned by her breeder and in training with Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes.
The mare foaled a full brother to the duo on August 29 of this year and returns to Wootton Bassett for that stallion’s first season in Australia.
American Pharoah has now sired stakes winners in seven different countries with Grade I winners coming in three of those.