Queen’s Speech Impressive Debut Winner for Pharoah

Queen’s Speech (2f American Pharoah x Paradise Playgirl, by Speightstown) became the newest juvenile winner for American Pharoah on Monday when romping home by an easy five lengths at the Curragh.

Making her debut over seven furlongs in the opener, the filly was one of the first to settle into the front as the field of 16 broke from the gate. Galloping alongside a rival, she traded the lead back and forth before ending that game in the final two furlongs.

Seamie Heffernan never had to do more than pump his arms at his mount as Queen’s Speech easily accelerated over the heavy ground. With it clear that no one was going to get near her, Heffernan eased up in the final sixteenth of a mile to let her coast home by five lengths.

“Those American Pharoah's don't mind that heavy ground and it's a big plus when you are in Europe being able to handle heavy ground,” Heffernan told Irishracing.com “She's straightforward and she won well. She actually felt a bit classy to me so you could probably start her off at a mile (next season). She is sure to get further."

Trained for the Coolmore partners by Aidan O’Brien, Queen’s Speech was bred by Pollock Farms.

The filly is a half-sister to Grade II-placed Heart of Paradise and multiple stakes placed Summer Reading among her four winning siblings from four to race. Her winning dam Paradise Playgirl herself is a half-sister to five stakes horses, led by Grade III winner Megascape with 22 stakes horses under Queen’s Speech’s first three dams.

The sire of 76 winners, 22 stakes horses, and 11 stakes winners overall, last year’s Champion Freshman Sire American Pharoah has seen 16 of his 2-year-olds win this year. That group is led by Group I winner Van Gogh and Group III-placed Thinking of You.