First Euro Group 1 For American Pharoah As Van Gogh Strikes

[Wandering Eyes]

A fortnight after Harvey’s Lil Goil provided American Pharoah with a first top-level triumph as a sire in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, there was another landmark in his remarkable story on Saturday as Van Gogh supplied him with a first in that grade in Europe in Saint-Cloud’s Criterium International. Highly tried by Aidan O’Brien this term, the son of the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Imagine (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) had been second in Leopardstown’s G3 Tyros S. and G2 Champions Juvenile S. Aug. 6 and Sept. 12 and in the Oct. 10 G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket and traded at a generous-looking 18-5. Anchored early by Pierre-Charles Boudot, the bay was delivered on the hedge in the home straight to take command with 300 metres remaining and drew away in style to score by four lengths from the long-time leader Normandy Bridge (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), with Jadoomi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) a neck away in third.

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM INTERNATIONAL-G1, €150,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-24, 2yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:48.31, hy.
1–VAN GOGH, 126, c, 2, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Imagine (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 11-14f, G1SW-Eng & Ire, $527,013), by Sadler’s Wells
2nd Dam: Doff The Derby, by Master Derby
3rd Dam: Margarethen, by Tulyar (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Diane Nagle; B-Barronstown Stud (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €85,710. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Ire & GSP-Eng, 7-2-3-o, €144,262. *1/2 to Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill), G1SW-Fr, GSWW & G1SP-Eng, GSW-Ire, $488,433; Viscount Nelson (Giant’s Causeway), GSW-UAE, MSW & G1SP-Ire, MG1SP-Eng, $707,647; Point Piper (Giant’s Causeway), GSW-US, $520,415; Kitty Matcham (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), GSW-Eng, $106,564; and Red Rock Canyon (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), MG1SP-Ire, $360,889. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Normandy Bridge (Fr), 126, c, 2, Le Havre (Ire)–Aiglonne, by Silver Hawk. (€80,000 Ylg ’19 AROCT). O-Gerard Thomas Ryan; B-Haras du Mezeray SA & Ecurie Skymarc Farm (FR); T-Stephanie Nigge. €34,290.
3–Jadoomi (Fr), 126, c, 2, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–South Sister (GB), by Sakhee. (€75,000 Ylg ’19 AROCT). O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Suc. de Moratalla, Alban Chevalier du Fau & Pierre-Hugues Henry (FR); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. €17,145.
Margins: 4, NK, NK. Odds: 3.60, 4.50, 1.70.
Also Ran: Policy of Truth (Fr), Darkness (Fr), La Barrosa (Ire). Scratched: Ponntos (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The post First Euro Group 1 For American Pharoah As Van Gogh Strikes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article