Pharoah gets off to a flyer

American Triple Crown and Breeders Cup Classic winner-turned stallion American Pharoah made the perfect start for connections with a winner from his first runner at Naas today as the Aidan O'Brien trained, Ryan Moore partnered Monarch Of Egypt landed the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.

Monarch Of Egypt, a USD750,000 yearling purchase, bounced out smartly from his middle draw and having disputed the lead, then improved to lead over a furlong out before staying on well to beat runner-up Ming Warrior by two and three parts of a length.

Trainer O'Brien, who was sending out his first juvenile runner this year, was impressed with the performance and later commented “he was never away and you couldn’t ask for him to do any more. He’s a straightforward, honest horse who shows plenty of speed and Ryan said he’d have no problem getting six or seven either.

“He’s babyish and was a bit green when he got there. He’s a lovely uncomplicated horse, lovely mind and was just ready to come to the track.

“Hopefully he will be a Royal Ascot horse but he’d need to run again.”

American Pharoah ended the longest ever wait between American Triple Crown winners when completing the famous hat-trick of race wins in 2015, thus becoming the first horse in 37 years, and since Affirmed in 1978, to achieve the feat.

Quotes from Alan Magee