American Pharoah has first entrant in Ireland
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah could be represented by his first starter on Friday evening, as he has an entrant at Dundalk in Ireland.
All eyes will be on Horus Bird in Dundalk’s first race on Friday, for 2-year-olds going five furlongs on the all-weather track. The local post time is 5:40 p.m., or 12:40 p.m. Eastern in the U.S.
Horus Bird is out of the multiple group stakes-winning Galileo mare Up, runner-up in the 2012 French 1000 Guineas and a half-sister to Group 1 winner Dutch Art. Up was a $2.2 million purchase by RanJan Racing, the breeder of this colt, at the 2015 Keeneland January sale. Horus Bird was purchased for $750,000 last year at the Keeneland September yearling sale by Peter Brant and the international Coolmore group, which stands American Pharoah. Only Brant is listed as owner in the Dundalk program, with leading international conditioner Aidan O’Brien the trainer. With Coolmore strongly supporting its young stallion, several of American Pharoah’s offspring are likely to debut in O’Brien’s care this year.
American Pharoah never raced on synthetic or turf, but his sire, Pioneerof the Nile, was a winner on turf and Grade 1 winner on synthetic, and is the sire of turf Grade 1 winner Midnight Storm.