Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (USA) posted his tenth stakes-winner overnight when exciting three year-old filly Pista stormed to victory in the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes (1m6f) at Leopardstown.
The Joseph O’Brien trained filly was a commanding winner at her second start at Galway on August 2 and handled the step up to Black Type company with ease.
She relished the step out in distance, hitting the line hard for Shane Crosse to win by half a length pulling away.
“She's improving all the time, she's still a bit green and I think there is more to come out of her,” said Brendan Powell, assistant to Joseph O'Brien.
“The lads are saying that's just on the easy side of good today and probably a little bit of cut in the ground suits her. She's a classy looking filly looking at that today.”
Pista was a $675,000 Keeneland September purchase for Heider Family Stables and is the first winner for blue-blooded Galileo mare Mohini, a daughter of Group I winner Denebola and half-sister to the dam of Group I winner Senga.
Her third dam is Group I winner Coup de Genie, a full sister to influential sire Machiavellian, this branch of the family also producing Champion 3YO and Arc winner Bago as well as Group I winners Maxios and Emollient, who is interestingly by Empire Maker, the grand-sire of American Pharoah.
Pista is the second winner from just two runners for American Pharoah from daughters of Galileo, the other being his Group I place-getter Monarch of Egypt.
The first Australian progeny of American Pharoah will race this season and the Triple Crown winner is back at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $55,000.
