Coolmore’s Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (USA) finished 2019 as the Champion North American First Crop sire and his first Australian bred offspring have been quick to impress at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on Wednesday with a colt from Azumi fetching $750,000.
Consigned by Segenhoe Stud, the star colt is a half-brother to Group III placed High Spirit and is the ninth foal of unraced Encosta de Lago mare Azumi, a full sister to Champion Filly Alinghi.
Bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, he caught the eye of Team Hawkes with Wayne Hawkes offering his thoughts after the sale.
“We though he was probably a 600K horse, but when we saw Coolmore bidding on him that gave us a bit more confidence,” Hawkes told Sky Racing.
“We loved him from the first time we saw him. Sometimes there is a big difference between what you want at a sale and what you get, but he was one we really wanted.
“American Pharoah has done such a good job overseas and a lot of his winners are on turf. He’s low flying a bit here and he still has to do it, but we like him and will be happy to buy more of them this year.”
American Pharoah has been very well supported by Australian breeders covering 441 mares in his first three seasons at a fee of $66,000.
